<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF OCTOBER 2, 1999 AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT
OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 2, 1999 FOR GENRAD, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES AND ITS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CURRENCY>                                U.S. DOLLARS

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-02-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           7,004
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  118,286
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,575
<INVENTORY>                                     44,513
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               176,065
<PP&E>                                          83,314
<DEPRECIATION>                                  40,492
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 276,351
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           75,340
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        29,744
<OTHER-SE>                                     147,443
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   276,351
<SALES>                                         91,482
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               109,246
<CGS>                                           55,799
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   66,745
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                22,346
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 435
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 19,768
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (2,000)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             17,768
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    17,768
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.62
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.60