AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL 4, 1997
                                                    REGISTRATION NO. 333-24187 
    
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                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C.  20549
                              --------------------------
                                  AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
                                       FORM S-3
                                REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                        Under
                              THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                              --------------------------
                                    MAGNETEK, INC.
                (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                              --------------------------
    
               DELAWARE                               95-3917584
    (State or other jurisdiction of                (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)              Identification Number)


                                 26 Century Boulevard
                                   P.O. Box 290159
                           Nashville, Tennessee  37229-0159
                                    (615) 316-5100
            (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
               area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
                              --------------------------

                                SAMUEL A. MILEY, ESQ.
                    Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
                                    MagneTek, Inc.
                                 26 Century Boulevard
                                   P.O. Box 290159
                           Nashville, Tennessee  37229-0159
                                    (615) 316-5100
               (Name, address, including zip code and telephone number,
                      including area code, of agent for service)
                              --------------------------

                                       COPY TO:
                                JENNIFER BELLAH, ESQ.
                             Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
                                333 South Grand Avenue
                         Los Angeles, California  90071-3197
                                    (213) 229-7000
                              --------------------------

           APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
      FROM TIME TO TIME AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT.

    If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box./ /
    If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box./X/
    If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement from the same offering./ /
    If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering./ /
    If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box./ /
   

    
   THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID
SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.

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Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment.  A
registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.  These securities may not be sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes
effective.  This prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities
in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State.



   
          SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED APRIL 4, 1997
PROSPECTUS
                                    MAGNETEK, INC.
                                     COMMON STOCK
                                   ($.01 PAR VALUE)
    
                                    250,000 SHARES

          This Prospectus relates to 250,000 shares (the "Securities") of Common
Stock, par value $.01 per share ("Common Stock")(including 250,000 Preferred
Stock Purchase Rights, one of which attaches to each share of Common Stock
issued, issued during the term of, and pursuant to, the Rights Agreement dated
as of March 4, 1997 by and between MagneTek, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") and The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent), of the Company, which
have previously been issued or may in the future be issued pursuant to the
Employment Agreement dated as of June 1, 1996 between the Company and Ronald N.
Hoge (the "Selling Stockholder") to, and which may be offered for resale from
time to time by, the Selling Stockholder.

          The Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol "MAG."  On March 21, 1997, the last reported sale price per share of the
Common Stock, as quoted on the New York Stock Exchange, was $16.50.

          SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 3 FOR CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS
RELEVANT TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES.

          The Selling Stockholder may from time to time offer and sell the
Securities held by him directly or through agents or broker-dealers on terms,
including the price per share, to be determined at the time of sale.  To the
extent required, the names of any agent or broker-dealer and applicable
commissions or discounts and any other required information with respect to any
particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement.
The Selling Stockholder reserves the sole right to accept or reject, in whole or
in part, any proposed purchase of the Securities to be made directly or through
agents.

          The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the
Securities by the Selling Stockholder but has agreed to bear certain expenses of
registration of the Securities under Federal and state securities laws, other
than commissions and discounts of agents or broker-dealers and transfer taxes,
if any.

          The Selling Stockholder and any agents or broker-dealers that
participate with the Selling Stockholder in the distribution of Securities may
be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act"), and any commissions received by them and any
profit on the resale of the Securities may be deemed to be underwriting
commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.  See "Plan of Distribution."
                    ---------------------------------------------
            THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
              SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
              COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
                   COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY
                       OF THIS PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION
                        TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
                    ---------------------------------------------
                   The date of this Prospectus is          , 1997.



                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS

Available Information. . . . . . . . 2       Use of Proceeds . . . . . . .4
Incorporation of Certain Documents           Plan of Distribution. . . . .4
by Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . 2       Legal Matters . . . . . . . .5
The Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3       Experts . . . . . . . . . . .5
Risk Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . 3       Miscellaneous . . . . . . . .5
Selling Stockholder. . . . . . . . . 4

                                AVAILABLE INFORMATION

          The Company has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") under the Securities Act, covering the Securities covered by this
Prospectus.  This Prospectus omits certain information and exhibits included in
the Registration Statement, copies of which may be obtained upon payment of a
fee prescribed by the Commission or may be examined free of charge at the
principal office of the Commission in Washington, D.C.  Statements contained in
this Prospectus as to the content of any contract or other document are not
necessarily complete, and in each instance reference is made to the copy of the
contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement,
each statement being qualified in all respects by such reference and the
exhibits and schedules thereto.  For further information regarding the Company
and the Common Shares offered hereby, reference is hereby made to the
Registration Statement, including the exhibits and schedules thereto, which may
be inspected without charge at the Commission's principal office at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., and copies of the Registration Statement or any
part thereof may be obtained from such office, upon payment of the fees
prescribed by the Commission.

          The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in
accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with
the Commission.  Such reports, proxy statements and other information filed with
the Commission by the Company can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the regional offices of the Commission
located at 500 West Madison Street, Room 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661 and at 75
Park Place, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10007.  Copies of such material can
be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.
Electronic filings made through the Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and
Retrieval System are also publicly available through the Commission's World Wide
Web site at http://www.sec.gov.  The Company's Common Stock is listed on the New
York Stock Exchange, and the reports, proxy and information statements and other
information filed by the Company with the New York Stock Exchange can also be
inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange at 20 Broad Street, New
York, New York 10005.

                   INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

          The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission (File
No. 1-10233) are by this reference incorporated in and made a part of this
Prospectus:  (i)the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 
30, 1996; (ii)the Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 31, 1996, August 26,
1996 and March 14, 1997, and the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters
ended September 30, 1996 and December 31, 1996; (iii)the description of the
Company's Common Stock contained in its Registration Statements on Form 8-A
filed April 21, 1989 and March 14, 1997; and (iv)all documents filed by the
Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after
the date of this Prospectus and prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all Securities offered hereby have been sold or
which deregisters all Securities then remaining unsold.  Any statement contained
in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to
the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by


                                          2



reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Prospectus.

          Copies of all documents that are incorporated herein by reference (not
including the exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference into such documents or into this Prospectus) will be
provided without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom
this Prospectus is delivered, upon a written or oral request to MagneTek, Inc.,
Attention: Corporate Secretary, 26 Century Boulevard, P.O. Box 290159, 
Nashville, Tennessee 37229-0159, telephone number (615) 316-5100.

                                     THE COMPANY

          The Company manufactures and markets a diverse group of electrical
equipment products.  The Company currently operates in three business segments:
Motors & Controls, which includes fractional and integral horsepower electric
motors, medium voltage generators and electronic variable speed drives; Lighting
Products, including magnetic and electronic lighting ballasts; and Power
Supplies including electronic power supplies and small transformer products.

          The Company was incorporated in Delaware in June, 1984.  The principal
executive offices of the Company are located at 26 Century Boulevard, Nashville,
Tennessee 37229-0159, telephone number (615)316-5100.

                                     RISK FACTORS

          CERTAIN INFORMATION SET FORTH IN THIS PROSPECTUS INCLUDES
"FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES
LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 AND IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES,
INCLUDING THOSE IDENTIFIED UNDER THIS CAPTION.  READERS ARE CAUTIONED NOT TO
PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE ON THESE STATEMENTS, WHICH SPEAK ONLY AS OF THE DATE
HEREOF.  THE COMPANY UNDERTAKES NO OBLIGATION TO RELEASE PUBLICLY ANY REVISIONS
TO THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS TO REFLECT EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER THE
DATE HEREOF OR TO REFLECT UNANTICIPATED EVENTS OR DEVELOPMENTS.

          IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER INFORMATION INCLUDED ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS, THE FOLLOWING FACTORS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CAREFULLY IN EVALUATING
AN INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES OFFERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS.

LEVERAGE

          During the late 1980s and early 1990s the Company grew rapidly,
primarily through acquisitions of electrical equipment businesses supplemented
by internal growth.  The use of debt to finance the majority of the acquisitions
left the Company with a relatively high degree of financial leverage in its
balance sheet.  Since March 1994, the Company's long-term debt has been reduced
by approximately $225 million.  As of December 31, 1996, the Company had
long-term debt, including current portion, of approximately $297 million and
total stockholders' equity of approximately $52 million.  This leverage
increases the Company's sensitivity to fluctuations in operating income and
interest rates.

DIVIDEND POLICY

          The Company has never paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock and
does not anticipate paying cash dividends in the near future.  The ability of
the Company to pay dividends on its Common Stock is restricted by provisions in
the Company's loan agreements.

RECENT REPOSITIONING ACTIONS

          In fiscal 1996 the Company implemented a repositioning program based
on a company-wide operating review.  As part of this repositioning, the Company
included in its results for the fiscal year ended


                                          3



June 30, 1996 a total of $94.4 million in asset writedowns and reserves for its
repositioning program.  These included approximately $29.2 million of asset
writedowns determined in accordance with FASB-121 which were primarily related
to the Company's investment in a German subsidiary, reserves of approximately
$50.5 million for repositioning of operations, warranty and other costs and a
$14.7 million increase in valuation reserves for deferred tax assets.   Although
the Company believes the repositioning actions are appropriate, there can be no
assurance that such repositioning will enable the Company to achieve significant
or consistent improvements in profitability.

                                 SELLING STOCKHOLDER

          The Selling Stockholder is Ronald N. Hoge, the Chief Executive Officer
of the Company.  The Securities have previously been issued or may in the future
be issued pursuant to the terms of Mr. Hoge's employment agreement with the
Company, dated as of June 1, 1996 (the "Employment Agreement").  The Employment
Agreement provides for grants of the Securities during each of the years from
1997 through 2001 depending on the achievement of certain performance criteria
measured by the average fair market value of the Company's Common Stock.  If
each of the performance targets were met for each year during the specified
period, a maximum of 250,000 shares would be issued to Mr. Hoge.  As of February
28, 1997 and prior to the offering, Mr. Hoge beneficially held 187,433 shares of
the Company's Common Stock (including 3,000 shares of Common Stock held by Mr.
Hoge's children, as to which Mr. Hoge disclaims beneficial ownership, and
including 33,333 options to acquire shares that are exercisable within 60 days
of such date).  The number of Securities offered pursuant to this Prospectus, if
the maximum number of Securities were granted to Mr. Hoge, is 250,000 shares.
Based upon the number of shares beneficially owned by Mr. Hoge as of February
28, 1997, the amount of the Company's Common Stock that would be beneficially
owned by Mr. Hoge after completion of an offering of such maximum number of
Securities granted is 162,433 shares.  Assuming that all options to acquire
shares are exercisable within 60 days of such date, although options actually
vest over five years, and based upon the number of shares that would be
outstanding as of the same date if such maximum number of Securities had been
granted, the amount and the percentage of the Company's Common Stock that would
be beneficially owned by Mr. Hoge after completion of an offering of such
maximum number of Securities granted is 529,100 shares, or 2.0% of the Company's
outstanding Common Stock.

                                   USE OF PROCEEDS

          The Securities are being offered hereby for the account of the Selling
Stockholder.  Accordingly, the Company will not receive any of the proceeds from
the sale of the Securities offered hereby.

                                 PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

          Sales of the Securities offered hereby may be made on the New York
Stock Exchange or the over-the-counter market, pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated
under the Securities Act or otherwise at prices and on terms then prevailing or
at prices related to the then current market price, or in negotiated
transactions.

          The Securities may be sold in (i)a block trade in which the broker or
dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the Securities as agent but may position
and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction,
(ii)transactions in which a broker or dealer acts as principal and resells the
Securities for its account pursuant to this Prospectus, (iii)an exchange
distribution in accordance with the rules of such exchange, and (iv)ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchases.
In effecting sales, brokers or dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholder may
arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate.  The Selling Stockholder
also may, from time to time, authorize underwriters acting as its agents to
offer and sell Securities upon such terms and conditions as shall be set forth
in a prospectus supplement.  Underwriters, brokers or dealers will receive
commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholder in amounts to be
negotiated immediately prior to sale.  Such underwriters, brokers or dealers and
any other participating brokers or dealers may be deemed to be "underwriters"
within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales and any
discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on
the resale of the Securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and
commissions under the Securities Act.


                                          4



          There is no assurance that the Selling Stockholder will offer for sale
or sell any or all of the Securities covered by this Prospectus.  The Company
has been advised by the Selling Stockholder that he or his pledgees, donees,
transferees or other successors in interest may sell all, a portion of, or none
of the Securities covered by this Prospectus.

                                    LEGAL MATTERS

          The legality of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby will be
passed upon for the Company by Samuel A. Miley, Esq., Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary of the Company.

                                       EXPERTS

          The consolidated financial statements and schedule of MagneTek, Inc.,
included or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1996, have been audited by Ernst & Young
LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their reports thereon included or
incorporated therein and incorporated herein by reference.  Such consolidated
financial statements and schedule are incorporated herein by reference in
reliance upon such reports given upon the authority of such firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.

                                    MISCELLANEOUS
          NO DEALER, SALES REPRESENTATIVE OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN
AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED
IN THIS PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED
IN THIS PROSPECTUS, AND IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION
MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE REGISTRANT OR THE
SELLING STOCKHOLDER.  THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A
SOLICITATION OF ANY OFFER TO BUY, COMMON STOCK BY ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN
WHICH SUCH AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED, OR IN WHICH THE PERSON
MAKING SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION  IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO, OR TO ANY PERSON
TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION.  NEITHER THE
DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS
CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.


                                          5




                                       PART II

                        INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

          The following table sets forth the estimated expenses in connection
with the distribution of the Securities registered hereby.  The expenses in
connection with the distribution contemplated by this Registration Statement
will be borne by the Company.

     SEC Registration Fee                        $1,232
     New York Stock Exchange Application Fee      1,500
     Legal fees and expenses*                     2,500
     Accounting fees and expenses*                2,500
     Blue sky fees and expenses*                  1,000
     Miscellaneous*                               1,268

          TOTAL*                                $10,000

- -------------
* Estimated.

ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

          The Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that a
director of the Registrant shall not be liable to the Registrant or its
stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director,
including grossly negligent business judgments made in good faith, except for
liability (i) for breach of the duty of loyalty to the Registrant or its
stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of
the Delaware General Corporation Law (governing distributions to stockholders),
or (iv) for any transaction for which a director derives an improper personal
benefit.

          As permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law,
the By-laws of the Registrant provide that the Registrant is required to
indemnify its directors, officers, employees  and agents, and persons serving in
such capacities in other business enterprises at the Registrant's request, to
the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, including those circumstances in
which indemnification would otherwise be discretionary (except that the
Registrant is not required to indemnify a person who (i) acted in bad faith,
(ii) failed to act in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Registrant, (iii) in the case of a criminal
proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person's conduct was
unlawful, or (iv) in the case of an action or suit by or in the right of the
Registrant, has been adjudged liable for negligence or misconduct in the
performance of such person's duty to the Registrant unless an appropriate court
determines that such person is entitled to indemnity).  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Registrant is required to indemnify the expenses incurred by any
director, officer, employee or agent who has been successful on the merits or
otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding.  The Registrant may, but
is not required to, advance expenses of a director of officer incurred in
defending an action suit or proceeding provided that the Registrant receives an
undertaking that such director or officer will repay the advanced funds in the
event it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to
indemnification.  Indemnification under the Registrant's By-laws may only be
made upon a determination by a quorum of disinterested directors (or, in certain
circumstances, by independent legal counsel or the stockholders) that
indemnification is proper in the circumstances because the applicable standard
of conduct has


                                         II-1



been met.  The indemnification provisions contained in the Registrant's By-laws
may be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of the Registrant's officers
and directors for liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

          The Registrant's By-laws also provide that the rights to
indemnification provided for in the By-laws are not exclusive of any other
rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any by-law,
agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, and further provide,
in accordance with Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, that the
Registrant may purchase and maintain insurance which protects its officers,
directors, employees and agents, and persons serving in such capacities in other
business enterprises at the Registrant's request, against any liabilities
incurred in connection with their services in such capacities.  Such an
insurance policy has been obtained by the Registrant.

          The description of the Registrant's By-laws contained in the preceding
paragraphs is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Registrant's By-laws
(filed with the Commission as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 2, 1995, which is incorporated by
reference herein).

          The Registrant has agreed to indemnify certain directors and officers
of the Registrant for any damages suffered in connection with the exercise of
certain registration rights.

ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS
   
          The Exhibit Index appears on page II-5.
    
ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS

          The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered thereby and the offerings of such securities
at the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

          Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

          The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement;

               (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
          the Securities Act of 1933;

               (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
          after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
          recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
          aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the


                                         II-2



          information set forth in the registration statement.  Notwithstanding
          the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities
          offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not
          exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or
          high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in
          the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to
          Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price
          represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering
          price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
          effective registration statement;

               (iii)     To include any material information with respect to the
          plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
          statement;

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration
statement.

          (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

          (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.


                                         II-3




                                      SIGNATURES
   
          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Nashville, State of Tennessee, on this 4th day of
April, 1997.
    
                              MAGNETEK, INC.
   
                              By:       /s/ Ronald N. Hoge*
                                 ------------------------------------------
                                             Ronald N. Hoge
                                  President and Chief Executive Officer
    

   
    
          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.


         SIGNATURE                    TITLE                      DATE
   
    /s/ Andrew G. Galef*      Chairman of the Board         April 4, 1997
- --------------------------
          Andrew G. Galef

    /s/ Ronald N. Hoge*       President, Chief              April 4, 1997
- --------------------------    Executive Officer and
      Ronald N. Hoge          Director (Principal  
                              Executive Officer)   
                                                   
    /s/ Dewain K. Cross*      Director                      April 4, 1997
- --------------------------
      Dewain K. Cross

    /s/ Paul J. Kofmehl*      Director                      April 4, 1997
- --------------------------
      Paul J. Kofmehl

     /s/ Crocker Nevin*       Director                      April 4, 1997
- --------------------------
      Crocker Nevin




    



   

 /s/ Marguerite W. Sallee*    Director                      April 4, 1997
- --------------------------
   Marguerite W. Sallee

   /s/ Robert E. Wycoff*      Director                      April 4, 1997
- --------------------------
     Robert E. Wycoff

   /s/ David P. Reiland*      Senior Vice President         April 4, 1997
- --------------------------    and Chief Financial
     David P. Reiland         Officer (Principal
                              Financial Officer)

    /s/ Thomas R. Kmak*       Vice President and            April 4, 1997
- --------------------------    Controller (Principal
      Thomas R. Kmak          Accounting Officer)


*By: /s/ Samuel A. Miley
- --------------------------
      Samuel A. Miley
      Attorney-in-Fact


                                         II-4
    



                                  INDEX TO EXHIBITS



     EXHIBIT NUMBER                          DESCRIPTION

             4(a)        Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
                         Company, as filed with the Delaware Secretary of
                         State on November 21, 1989, incorporated by
                         reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration
                         Statement on Form S-3 filed on August 21, 1991,
                         Commission File No. 33-41854.

             4(b)        By-laws of the Company, as amended and
                         restated, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                         3.2 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                         for the fiscal year ended July 2, 1995,
                         Commission File No. 1-10233.
   
            5.1          Opinion and consent of Samuel A. Miley, Esq.
    
           10.1          Employment Agreement, dated  as  of June  1,
                         1996, between the Company and Ronald N. Hoge,
                         incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the
                         Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                         quarter ended December 31, 1996, Commission File
                         No. 1-10233.
   
           23.1          Consent of Samuel A. Miley, Esq. (contained
                         in Exhibit 5.1).

           23.2          Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent
                         auditors.
    
           24.1          Power of Attorney (included on  the signature
                         page hereto).
   

                                         II-5