<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO
ELECTRON CORP.'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH
30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-30-1996
<CASH>                                         774,715
<SECURITIES>                                   675,752
<RECEIVABLES>                                  615,809
<ALLOWANCES>                                    27,861
<INVENTORY>                                    423,190
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             2,666,557
<PP&E>                                       1,051,915
<DEPRECIATION>                                 268,165
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,638,413
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          937,104
<BONDS>                                      1,616,170
<COMMON>                                        90,716
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,314,655
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,638,413
<SALES>                                        533,387
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               635,094
<CGS>                                          320,536
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  400,596<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                35,039<F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   249
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              27,398
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 75,333
<INCOME-TAX>                                    22,330
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             40,442
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    40,442
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .46
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .41
<FN>
<F1>THIS LINE IS MADE UP OF THE FOLLOWING INCOME STATEMENT ACCOUNTS: "COST OF
PRODUCTS", "COST OF SERVICES", AND "RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS".
<F2>THIS LINE IS MADE UP OF THE FOLLOWING INCOME STATEMENT ACCOUNTS: "COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH DIVISIONAL AND PRODUCT RESTRUCTURING", "INTERNALLY FINANCED
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT" AND "OTHER EXPENSES FOR NEW LINES OF BUSINESS".
</FN>