<ARTICLE>               5
<LEGEND>
This Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Dover
Corporation Annual Report to stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1998, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                            1,000
       
                                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                       DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                          JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                            DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                                       96,774
<SECURITIES>                                                      0
<RECEIVABLES>                                               596,585
<ALLOWANCES>                                                 20,955
<INVENTORY>                                                 559,267
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                          1,304,524
<PP&E>                                                    1,282,436
<DEPRECIATION>                                              710,473
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                            3,627,276
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                       989,747
<BONDS>                                                     610,090
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                             0
<PREFERRED>                                                       0
<COMMON>                                                    235,571
<OTHER-SE>                                                1,675,313
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                              3,627,276
<SALES>                                                   3,977,666
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                          3,977,666
<CGS>                                                     2,551,381
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                             3,445,706
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                             (3,124)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                  0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                           60,746
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                             488,646
<INCOME-TAX>                                                162,249
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                         326,397
<DISCONTINUED>                                               52,448
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                   0
<CHANGES>                                                         0
<NET-INCOME>                                                378,845
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                  1.70
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                  1.69