<ARTICLE>      5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO
ELECTRON CORPORATION'S REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED OCTOBER 3, 1998
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000
       
                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                JAN-02-1999
<PERIOD-END>                     OCT-03-1998
<CASH>                               416,084
<SECURITIES>                       1,135,876
<RECEIVABLES>                        889,263
<ALLOWANCES>                          55,315
<INVENTORY>                          619,315
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                   3,269,275
<PP&E>                             1,268,395
<DEPRECIATION>                       443,375
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     6,244,127
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>              1,122,477
<BONDS>                            1,894,543
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                      0
<PREFERRED>                                0
<COMMON>                             166,971
<OTHER-SE>                         2,054,303
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>       6,244,127
<SALES>                            2,733,993
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                   2,869,231
<CGS>                              1,608,519 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                      1,727,160 <F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                     205,238 <F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                       5,473
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    77,077
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      308,147
<INCOME-TAX>                         130,069
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                  140,043
<DISCONTINUED>                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                        4,817
<CHANGES>                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                         144,860
<EPS-PRIMARY>                           0.89
<EPS-DILUTED>                           0.84
<FN>
<F1>THIS LINE IS MADE UP OF THE FOLLOWING INCOME STATEMENT ACCOUNTS: "COST
OF PRODUCT AND SERVICE REVENUES" AND "COST OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
CONTRACTS".
<F2>THIS LINE IS MADE UP OF THE FOLLOWING INCOME STATEMENT ACCOUNTS:
RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER NONRECURRING COSTS" AND "INTERNALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT".
</FN>