<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO
ELECTRON CORPORATION'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH
29, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-03-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-27-1997
<CASH>                                         341,753
<SECURITIES>                                 1,174,930
<RECEIVABLES>                                  707,512
<ALLOWANCES>                                    38,784
<INVENTORY>                                    511,100
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             2,967,872
<PP&E>                                       1,073,921
<DEPRECIATION>                                 319,935
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,343,588
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,130,257
<BONDS>                                      1,501,830
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       150,167
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,607,281
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 5,343,588
<SALES>                                        722,625
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               763,505
<CGS>                                          430,802
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  467,140<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                50,003<F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,558
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              21,412
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 97,595
<INCOME-TAX>                                    28,397
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             52,058
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    52,058
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .32
<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>