<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 JUNE 29,
1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-29-1996
<CASH>                                         541,195
<SECURITIES>                                 1,127,877
<RECEIVABLES>                                  604,792
<ALLOWANCES>                                    37,649
<INVENTORY>                                    449,124
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             2,878,454
<PP&E>                                       1,077,605
<DEPRECIATION>                                 283,117
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,900,554
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          925,997
<BONDS>                                      1,657,235
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       141,410
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,409,268
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,900,554
<SALES>                                      1,269,793
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,398,144
<CGS>                                          702,491
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  872,066<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                98,650<F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,150
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              53,236
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                157,847
<INCOME-TAX>                                    42,650
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             85,942
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    85,942
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .63
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .56
<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 FUNDED
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT" AND "OTHER EXPENSES FOR NEW LINES OF BUSINESS".
</FN>