<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
       THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
       CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
       OF ALTEX INDUSTRIES, INC. FOR THE QUARTER ENDED 12/31/96, AND IS
       QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                         1,279,000
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  157,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,438,000
<PP&E>                                         2,444,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                 2,147,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,735,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          136,000
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       138,000
<OTHER-SE>                                     1,461,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,735,000
<SALES>                                        261,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               276,000
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  210,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                66,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            66,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   66,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.00