EXHIBIT 21
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                        MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
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          The registrant's present affiliates include the following:



                                                    State or Other
                                                   Jurisdiction of
     Name                                           Incorporation
     ----                                          ---------------            
                                                
                                      
Compania MSA de Argentina S.A.                     Argentina
MSA (Aust.) Pty. Limited                           Australia
MSA Export Limited                                 Barbados
MSA do Brasil Ltda.                                Brazil
MSA Canada                                         Canada
MSA de Chile Ltda.                                 Chile
Baseline Industries, Inc.                          Colorado
MSA International, Inc.                            Delaware
MSA de France                                      France
Auergesellschaft GmbH                              Germany
MSA/Auer Safety Technology                         Hungary
MSA Italiana S.p.A.                                Italy
MSA Japan Ltd.                                     Japan
MSA de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.                        Mexico
MSA Nederland, B.V.                                Netherlands
HAZCO Services, Inc.                               Ohio
MSA del Peru S.A.                                  Peru
MSA (Britain) Limited                              Scotland
MSA S.E. Asia Pte. Ltd.                            Singapore
MSA Espanola S.A.                                  Spain
AB Tegma                                           Sweden
MSA (Switzerland) Ltd.                             Switzerland
Aritron Instrument A.G.                            Switzerland
MSA Zimbabwe (Pvt.) Limited                        Zimbabwe
                               
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     The above-mentioned affiliated companies are included in the consolidated
financial statements of the registrant filed as part of this annual report.  The
names of certain other affiliates, which considered in the aggregate as a single
affiliate would not constitute a significant affiliate, have been omitted.