Exhibit 99.a

                                                          October 16, 1996
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                           MASCO CORPORATION ANNOUNCES
                  EXPECTED FAVORABLE THIRD QUARTER RESULTS AND
               SALE OF A MAJOR PORTION OF ITS MASCOTECH INVESTMENT


      MASCO CORPORATION announced that it expects to report favorable results
for the third quarter ended September 30, 1996.  The Company estimates that
sales in the quarter approximated $840 million, a 14 percent increase from the
comparable period last year.  The Company estimates that net income for the
quarter approximated $80 million or $.50 per share, an increase of 28 percent
when compared with $.39 per share in the comparable period of 1995.

      MASCO CORPORATION also announced that it has reached an agreement for the
sale to MascoTech, Inc. of 17 million shares of MascoTech common stock and
warrants to purchase 10 million shares of MascoTech common stock, both of which
are currently owned by MASCO.

      Under the sale agreement, MASCO will receive approximately $266 million,
with $115 million cash to be paid at closing and the balance of the
consideration to be paid within one year.  The agreement also provides for the
extension of the existing corporate services and financing commitment agreements
between the two companies and is subject to MascoTech obtaining necessary
approvals under its bank credit agreement.  As part of the transaction, Richard
A. Manoogian, Chairman of MASCO, has also agreed to sell to MascoTech one
million shares of MascoTech common stock at the current market price.  His
present 7 percent common ownership in MascoTech would remain approximately the
same after the purchase from MASCO is completed.

      The transaction is consistent with MASCO's previously stated intention to
reduce its equity ownership in its MascoTech affiliate from the present 45
percent to under 20 percent.  This transaction, taking into account the
mandatory conversion in mid-1997 of MascoTech's outstanding preferred stock into
common stock, will result in MASCO owning approximately 16 percent of
MascoTech's common stock.

      MASCO CORPORATION is one of the world's leading manufacturers of home
improvement and building products.  The Company's well-known brands include
Delta and Peerless faucets, Merillat, KraftMaid and StarMark cabinetry, Baldwin
hardware, Weiser locks, Thermador appliances and Watkins Hot Spring Spas.