<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF HEIN-WERNER CORPORATION AND THE COMPUTATION
OF EARNINGS PER SHARE (EXHIBIT 11) AS OF AND FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER
27, 1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND COMPUTATION.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-27-1997
<CASH>                                           7,846
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   12,437
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,827
<INVENTORY>                                     10,422
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                31,008
<PP&E>                                           7,536
<DEPRECIATION>                                   4,863
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  35,173
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           10,775
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         2,760
<OTHER-SE>                                      19,889
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    35,173
<SALES>                                         27,121
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                27,121
<CGS>                                           14,523
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   26,023
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  42
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    949
<INCOME-TAX>                                       384
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                565
<DISCONTINUED>                                   5,235
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,800
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.01
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.99