<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such Form 10-Q. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000061004 <NAME> LYNCH CORPORATION <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 25,556 <SECURITIES> 2,919 <RECEIVABLES> 57,572 <ALLOWANCES> 1,624 <INVENTORY> 36,643 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 139,491 <PP&E> 213,670 <DEPRECIATION> 58,012 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 408,988 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 91,317 <BONDS> 244,952 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 5,139 <OTHER-SE> 30,822 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 408,988 <SALES> 348,922 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 348,922 <CGS> 298,231 <TOTAL-COSTS> 330,283 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 7,024 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 17,178 <INCOME-PRETAX> (3,892) <INCOME-TAX> (1,139) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (3,536) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (3,536) <EPS-PRIMARY> (2.50) <EPS-DILUTED> (2.50)