<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO POWER CORPORATION'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED APRIL 4, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-03-1998 <PERIOD-END> APR-03-1998 <CASH> 29,797 <SECURITIES> 4,059 <RECEIVABLES> 71,154 <ALLOWANCES> 13,703 <INVENTORY> 42,726 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 148,689 <PP&E> 33,518 <DEPRECIATION> 8,961 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 339,001 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 112,316 <BONDS> 333 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,249 <OTHER-SE> 64,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 339,001 <SALES> 132,116 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 132,116 <CGS> 97,058 <TOTAL-COSTS> 97,058 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 4,388 <LOSS-PROVISION> 158 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,061 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,021 <INCOME-TAX> 987 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (233) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (233) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.02) <EPS-DILUTED> (.02)