<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