Exhibit 23


                   Consent of Independent Public Accountants


     As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the inclusion of
our report dated February 12, 2001 (except for the matters discussed in Note 18,
as to which the date is July 12, 2001), in Thermo Electron Corporation's Current
Report on Form 8-K dated August 6, 2001.


/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP

Boston, Massachusetts
August 3, 2001