Exhibit 32.1

      CERTIFICATION REQUIRED BY EXCHANGE ACT RULES 13A-14(B) AND 15D-14(B),
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

       In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Thermo Electron
Corporation (the "Company") for the period ended December 31, 2003 as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), the
undersigned, Marijn E. Dekkers, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, hereby
certifies, pursuant to Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rules 13a-14(b) and
15d-14(b), that:

       (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;
and

       (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.



                                            /s/ Marijn E. Dekkers
                                            ---------------------------------
Dated:  March 2, 2004                       Marijn E. Dekkers
                                            Chief Executive Officer




























A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other
document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that
appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement
required by Section 906, has been provided to Thermo Electron Corporation and
will be retained by Thermo Electron Corporation and furnished to the Securities
and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.