<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS INC.'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 29, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-28-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-29-1996 <CASH> 360,938 <SECURITIES> 4,758 <RECEIVABLES> 310,087 <ALLOWANCES> 21,330 <INVENTORY> 248,851 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 971,555 <PP&E> 260,650 <DEPRECIATION> 63,639 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,763,227 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 598,021 <BONDS> 238,830 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 9,717 <OTHER-SE> 659,874 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,763,227 <SALES> 547,123 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 547,123 <CGS> 295,235 <TOTAL-COSTS> 295,235 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 43,272 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,283 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13,517 <INCOME-PRETAX> 93,467 <INCOME-TAX> 22,456 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 69,339 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 69,339 <EPS-PRIMARY> .74 <EPS-DILUTED> .67