<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BAIRNCO'S THIRD QUARTER 1996 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-28-1996 SEP-28-1996 <CASH> 626,000 626,000 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 23,907,000 23,907,000 <ALLOWANCES> 901,000 901,000 <INVENTORY> 24,137,000 24,137,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 54,358,000 54,358,000 <PP&E> 84,441,000 84,441,000 <DEPRECIATION> 46,704,000 46,704,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 104,293,000 104,293,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 25,201,000 25,201,000 <BONDS> 24,302,000 24,302,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 111,000 111,000 <OTHER-SE> 48,872,000 48,872,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 104,293,000 104,293,000 <SALES> 36,152,000 111,569,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 36,152,000 111,569,000 <CGS> 23,645,000 72,368,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 23,645,000 73,368,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 417,000 1,265,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,125,000 10,074,000 <INCOME-TAX> 1,187,000 3,828,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,938,000 6,246,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,938,000 6,246,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.20 0.63 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.20 0.63