Exhibit 12(a)(12)


  THERMO ELECTRON AMENDS MINIMUM CONDITION IN TENDER OFFER FOR SPECTRA-PHYSICS
                SHARES AND EXTENDS DEADLINE TO DECEMBER 21, 2001

WALTHAM, Mass., December 17, 2001 - Thermo Electron Corporation (NYSE:TMO)
announced today that it is amending one of the conditions to the closing of its
tender offer for Spectra-Physics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPLI) common stock. The original
tender offer, now being amended, required that the number of shares of
Spectra-Physics common stock validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the
original expiration date, together with shares owned by Thermo Electron and its
subsidiaries, constituted at least 90 percent of the outstanding Spectra-Physics
common stock. Thermo Electron has decided to change the percentage for this
condition from 90 percent to 86.5 percent. As a result, Thermo Electron has
extended the expiration date of the tender offer until midnight, New York City
time, on Friday, December 21, 2001. All other terms and conditions of the offer
remain unchanged.

         Because of the amendment and extension announced today, holders of
Spectra-Physics common stock may tender or withdraw their shares until midnight
on Friday, December 21, 2001, unless the offer is further extended. The tender
offer previously had been scheduled to expire at midnight on Friday, December
14, 2001.

         Thermo Electron reported that approximately 1,369,942 shares of
Spectra-Physics stock were tendered in the offer. These shares, together with
the shares owned by Thermo Electron, represent approximately 86.6 percent of the
outstanding shares. Thermo Electron has also received guarantees that
approximately 1 percent more shares will also be tendered.

         On November 16, 2001, Thermo Electron mailed an offer to purchase to
registered holders of Spectra-Physics shares regarding the tender offer and the
merger, accompanied by a letter of transmittal that Spectra-Physics shareholders
can use to tender their shares in the offer. Beneficial owners of
Spectra-Physics shares holding in street name through their brokers can receive
the offer to purchase and letter of transmittal from their brokers and should
contact their brokers for those documents. Copies of the offer to purchase and
letter of transmittal may be requested from D.F. King & Co., Inc., the
information agent for the tender offer, by calling (800) 859-8508.

         Thermo Electron Corporation is a global leader in providing
technology-based instruments, components, and systems that offer total solutions
for markets ranging from life sciences to telecommunications to food, drug, and
beverage production. The company's powerful technologies help researchers sift
through data to make discoveries that will fight disease or prolong life. They
allow manufacturers to fabricate critical components required to increase the
speed and quality of communications. And they automatically monitor and control
online production to ensure that quality standards are met safely and
efficiently. Thermo Electron, based in Waltham, Massachusetts, reported $2.3
billion in revenues in 2000 and employs approximately 12,000 people worldwide.
For more information on Thermo Electron, visit http://www.thermo.com.


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