<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BAIRNCO'S FIRST QUARTER 1997 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-29-1997 <CASH> 618,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 25,125,000 <ALLOWANCES> 892,000 <INVENTORY> 24,974,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 55,141,000 <PP&E> 84,946,000 <DEPRECIATION> 47,203,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 104,543,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 24,698,000 <BONDS> 23,529,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 112,000 <OTHER-SE> 49,981,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 104,543,000 <SALES> 37,445,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 37,445,000 <CGS> 24,465,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 24,465,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 415,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,449,000 <INCOME-TAX> 1,276,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,173,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,173,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.23 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.23