<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 SEPTEMBER
28, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-28-1996
<CASH>                                         506,528
<SECURITIES>                                 1,204,981
<RECEIVABLES>                                  630,772
<ALLOWANCES>                                    35,345
<INVENTORY>                                    441,161
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             2,950,374
<PP&E>                                         985,866
<DEPRECIATION>                                 291,108
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,949,500
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          929,127
<BONDS>                                      1,408,386
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       149,110
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,548,370
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,949,500
<SALES>                                      2,013,840
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,138,125
<CGS>                                        1,209,280
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,315,419<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               147,800<F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 4,343
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              75,056
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                269,186
<INCOME-TAX>                                    74,589
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            137,184
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   137,184
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .99
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .89
<FN>
<F1>THIS LINE IS MADE UP OF THE FOLLOWING INCOME STATEMENT ACCOUNTS: "COST OF
PRODUCT AND SERVICE REVENUES" AND "RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS".
<F2>THIS LINE IS MADE UP OF THE FOLLOWING INCOME STATEMENT ACCOUNTS: 
"RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER NONRECURRING COSTS", "INTERNALLY FUNDED
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT" AND "OTHER EXPENSES FOR NEW LINES OF BUSINESS".
</FN>