EXHIBIT 1

            THERMO INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES INTENT TO ACQUIRE THE
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                    SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS DIVISION OF FISONS
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          WALTHAM, Mass., March 2, 1995 -- Thermo Instrument Systems
          Inc. (ASE-THI) announced today that it has signed a purchase
          agreement with Fisons plc to acquire the Scientific
          Instruments Division of Fisons for 202 million British
          pounds sterling, subject to a post-closing adjustment. For
          the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994, the division
          reported revenues of 261.7 million pounds and a trading loss
          of 11.7 million pounds. Revenues for the six-month period
          from July 1, 1994, to December 31, 1994, were 157.3 million
          pounds, with a trading profit of 0.9 million pounds.
          Consummation of this agreement would represent the largest
          acquisition in the history of both Thermo Instrument and its
          parent company, Thermo Electron Corporation. 

               The Scientific Instruments Division is principally
          composed of Fisons operations that are involved in the
          research, development, manufacture, and sale of analytical
          instruments to industrial and research laboratories
          worldwide.

               "We believe the Scientific Instruments Division of
          Fisons will provide a strategically attractive extension to
          our analytical instrument business as its products,
          distribution network, and manufacturing abilities add to our
          strengths in a growing global market," said Arvin H. Smith,
          president and chief executive officer of Thermo Instrument
          Systems. "The potential represented by this acquisition is
          exciting because it enhances our presence in key European
          countries and gives us access to several important
          analytical technologies and products."

               The acquisition is subject to certain conditions,
          including approval by Fisons plc shareholders, regulatory
          approvals, consent of certain third parties, and customary
          conditions to closing. The company intends to fund the
          purchase price from available cash and through borrowings
          from Thermo Electron.

               Thermo Instrument Systems develops, manufactures, and
          markets instruments used to detect and measure air
          pollution, radioactivity, complex chemical compounds, toxic
          metals and other elements in a broad range of liquids and
          solids as well as to control and monitor various industrial
          processes. Thermo Instrument Systems is a public subsidiary