<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SNAP-ON INCORPORATED AS OF AND FOR THE
THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED OCTOBER 3, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   OTHER<F1>
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JAN-02-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-04-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   OCT-03-1998
<CASH>                                         13,470
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  533,226
<ALLOWANCES>                                   25,442
<INVENTORY>                                    420,512
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,068,946
<PP&E>                                         577,354
<DEPRECIATION>                                 304,963
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,671,347
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          439,986
<BONDS>                                        246,096
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       66,675
<OTHER-SE>                                     705,964
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,671,347
<SALES>                                        1,295,877
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               1,295,877
<CGS>                                          677,554
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  728,116
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               525,346
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             15,365
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (9,604)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   7,806
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (17,410)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (17,410)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (0.29)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (0.29)
<FN>
<F1>Period is thirty-nine weeks.
</FN>