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                                                                  EXHIBIT 5 (b)


              [ARMSTRONG, TEASDALE, SCHLAFLY & DAVIS LETTERHEAD]


                               August 24, 1995


Board of Directors
LaBarge, Inc.
707 North Second Street
St. Louis, Missouri  63102

Gentlemen:

        In our capacity as counsel for LaBarge, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), we have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") proposed to be filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, relating to up to 394,000 shares of common stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), to be offered by the Company to its
employees pursuant to options issued under the Company's Incentive Stock Option
Plans of 1987 and 1993 (the "Plans").  In connection herewith, we have examined
such records, documents and proceedings as we deem relevant and necessary as a
basis for the opinion expressed herein.

        Upon the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

        1.      The shares of Common Stock referred to above, to the extent
                actually issued pursuant to the Plans, will have been duly
                and validly authorized and issued and will be fully paid and
                non-assessable shares of the Company;

        2.      Under the laws of the State of Delaware, no personal liability
                attaches to the ownership of the shares of the Common Stock
                of the Company.

        We hereby consent to filing of this opinion with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

                                        Very truly yours,

                        

                                        ARMSTRONG, TEASDALE, SCHLAFLY & DAVIS
                                        Armstrong, Teasdale, Schlafly & Davis