<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO
ELECTRON CORPORATION'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q/A FOR THE QUARTER ENDED
MARCH 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED> 
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-30-1996
<CASH>                                         774,805
<SECURITIES>                                   675,752
<RECEIVABLES>                                  632,477
<ALLOWANCES>                                    29,769
<INVENTORY>                                    437,369
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             2,697,893
<PP&E>                                       1,062,938
<DEPRECIATION>                                 276,666
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,675,047
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          977,965
<BONDS>                                      1,617,647
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        91,859
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,323,966
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,675,047
<SALES>                                        550,678
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               652,385
<CGS>                                          329,340
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  408,003<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                35,964<F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   318
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              27,636
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 76,260
<INCOME-TAX>                                    22,676
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             41,023
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    41,023
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .31
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .27
<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>