<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000760375 <NAME> WELLESLEY LSE INCOME LTD PARTNERSHIP III-B FDS <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <CASH> 14,772 <SECURITIES> 8,963 <RECEIVABLES> 59,965 <ALLOWANCES> 16,964 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 66,736 <PP&E> 678,045 <DEPRECIATION> 660,476 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 84,305 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 37,123 <BONDS> 0 <COMMON> 11,140,998 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> (11,093,816) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 47,182 <SALES> 61,790 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 74,125 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 4,991 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 108,264 <LOSS-PROVISION> 6,744 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> (45,874) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (45,874) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (45,874) <EPS-PRIMARY> (1.88) <EPS-DILUTED> 0