<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial informatin extracted from the
Company's Financial Statements as of March 31, 1999 and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                        0000061004                        
<NAME>                                       Lynch Corporation
<MULTIPLIER>                                 1000
<CURRENCY>                                   U.S. DOLLAR
       
                                          
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                               JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                 MAR-31-1999 
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                        1
<CASH>                                            16,708
<SECURITIES>                                       1,287
<RECEIVABLES>                                     44,882
<ALLOWANCES>                                         736
<INVENTORY>                                       31,795
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 149,738 
<PP&E>                                           207,251
<DEPRECIATION>                                    70,412
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   452,621
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            136,769
<BONDS>                                          244,680
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                            0
<COMMON>                                           5,139
<OTHER-SE>                                        23,392
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     452,621
<SALES>                                           95,123
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                  95,123
<CGS>                                             83,668
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                     91,861
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 4,885
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  (16,143)
<INCOME-TAX>                                       5,533
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              (10,610)
<DISCONTINUED>                                      (551)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     (160)
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                     (10,991)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      (7.75)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      (7.75)