<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM DECEMBER 1996 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000066570 <NAME> MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES CO <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 7,963 <SECURITIES> 17,133 <RECEIVABLES> 104,733 <ALLOWANCES> (2,993) <INVENTORY> 77,040 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 24,531 <PP&E> 347,432 <DEPRECIATION> (200,374) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 407,682 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 91,814 <BONDS> 13,278 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 3,569 <COMMON> 10,866 <OTHER-SE> 226,997 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 407,682 <SALES> 500,985 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 506,855 <CGS> 307,112 <TOTAL-COSTS> 329,485 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 735 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,595 <INCOME-PRETAX> 36,667 <INCOME-TAX> 13,606 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 23,061 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 23,061 <EPS-PRIMARY> 4.74 <EPS-DILUTED> 4.74