<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> (Replace this text with the legend) </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000718487 <NAME> SpecTran Corporation <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 3,152 <SECURITIES> 9,030 <RECEIVABLES> 10,587 <ALLOWANCES> 223 <INVENTORY> 8,458 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 33,744 <PP&E> 60,259 <DEPRECIATION> 16,481 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 91,910 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 12,464 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 696 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 91,910 <SALES> 47,747 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 47,747 <CGS> 29,266 <TOTAL-COSTS> 13,417 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 20 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 701 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,453 <INCOME-TAX> 1,850 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,603 <EPS-PRIMARY> .51 <EPS-DILUTED> .51