<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>