EXHIBIT 5.1

               [LETTERHEAD OF IDE, HAIGNEY & RADO]

                                                  April 11, 1997

TENNEY ENGINEERING, INC.
1090 Springfield Road
Union, New Jersey 07083

          Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8
               Tenney Engineering, Inc.
               1995 Incentive Stock Option Plan  

Gentlemen:

     We have served as counsel for Tenney Engineering, Inc., a New
Jersey corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant
to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
Statement"), of an aggregate of 330,000 shares (the "Shares") of
Series A common stock, $.01 par value, of the Company, to be issued
and sold by the Company to its employees pursuant to the Tenney
Engineering, Inc., 1995 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").

     We have examined and are familiar with originals or copies
(certified, photostatic or otherwise identified to our
satisfaction) of such documents, corporate records and other
instruments relating to the Company and the Plan as we have deemed
necessary and advisable.  In such examinations, we have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures on all originals and copies of
documents we have examined, the authenticity of all documents
submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original
documents of all certified, conformed or photostatic copies.  As to
questions of fact material and relevant to our opinion, we have
relied upon certificates or representations of Company officials
and of appropriate governmental officials.

     Based upon and subject to the foregoing and having regard for
such legal considerations as we have deemed relevant, it is our
opinion that:

     1.   The Shares have been duly authorized; and

     2.   Upon the issuance and delivery of the Shares following
          payment therefor as provided in the Plan, the Shares will
          be legally and validly issued, fully paid and non-
          assessable.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1
to the Registration Statement.


                                   Very truly yours,



                                   S/  IDE, HAIGNEY & RADO LLP
                                       IDE, HAIGNEY & RADO LLP