<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION   EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  OF SNAP-ON  INCORPORATED  AS OF AND FOR THE
THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED APRIL 3, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-03-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   APR-03-1999
<CASH>                                         19,238
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  520,829
<ALLOWANCES>                                   20,564
<INVENTORY>                                    381,697
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,037,031
<PP&E>                                         585,015
<DEPRECIATION>                                 317,740
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,642,129
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          441,190
<BONDS>                                        246,288
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       66,697
<OTHER-SE>                                     695,036
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,642,129
<SALES>                                        452,585
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               452,585
<CGS>                                          233,684
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  233,684
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               182,229
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             4,681
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                50,217
<INCOME-TAX>                                   17,976
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            32,241
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   32,241
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.55
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.55