<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 28, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-03-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-28-1997 <CASH> 459,328 <SECURITIES> 1,713 <RECEIVABLES> 376,676 <ALLOWANCES> 23,470 <INVENTORY> 286,332 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,200,633 <PP&E> 316,012 <DEPRECIATION> 84,632 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,386,787 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 635,910 <BONDS> 401,128 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 9,791 <OTHER-SE> 790,164 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,386,787 <SALES> 734,355 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 734,355 <CGS> 383,942 <TOTAL-COSTS> 383,942 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 800 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,890 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 20,395 <INCOME-PRETAX> 114,013 <INCOME-TAX> 38,761 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 70,806 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 70,806 <EPS-PRIMARY> .58 <EPS-DILUTED> .53