<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     (Replace this text with the legend)
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000718487
<NAME>                        SpecTran Corporation
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         1,569
<SECURITIES>                                   30,628
<RECEIVABLES>                                  10,075
<ALLOWANCES>                                   200
<INVENTORY>                                    7,656
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               53,661
<PP&E>                                         37,449
<DEPRECIATION>                                 15,546
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 86,235
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          9,553
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       690
<OTHER-SE>                                     0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   86,235
<SALES>                                        16,228
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               16,228
<CGS>                                          9,686
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  9,686
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             353
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                1,689
<INCOME-TAX>                                   567
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            1,122
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   1,122
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .17
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .17