<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
SEPTEMBER 27, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-03-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-27-1997
<CASH>                                         493,287
<SECURITIES>                                 1,036,917
<RECEIVABLES>                                  790,075
<ALLOWANCES>                                    43,235
<INVENTORY>                                    521,605
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             3,070,179
<PP&E>                                       1,119,306
<DEPRECIATION>                                 359,902
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,588,131
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,008,822
<BONDS>                                      1,819,445
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       151,359
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,637,377
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 5,588,131
<SALES>                                      2,426,797
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,426,797
<CGS>                                        1,413,400
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,519,427<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               145,559<F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 6,974
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              67,794
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                341,105
<INCOME-TAX>                                   118,373
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            170,075
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   170,075
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.01
<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>