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                                                                      Exhibit 5 
                                                                      ---------
                           NUTTER, McCLENNEN & FISH
                                          
                               ATTORNEYS AT LAW
                                       
                            ONE INTERNATIONAL PLACE
                       BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS  02110-2699
                                       
          TELEPHONE:  617-439-2000          FACSIMILE:  617-973-9748
                                          
CAPE COD OFFICE                                               DIRECT DIAL NUMBER
HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS
    
                                 June 9, 1995
                                       
    
    
GenRad, Inc.
300 Baker Avenue
Concord, MA  01742
            
Gentlemen/Ladies:
            
        Reference is made to the registration statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") which GenRad, Inc. (the "Company") is filing
concurrently herewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Securities Act"), with respect to (i)
100,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, $1.00 par value (the "Common
Stock") issuable pursuant to the Company's 1991 Directors' Stock Option Plan,
as amended (the "Plan"), and (ii) an indeterminate number of shares of such
Common Stock which may be issued or become issuable under the Plan by reason of
stock dividends, stock splits or other recapitalizations executed hereafter.
      
        We have acted as legal counsel for the Company in connection with the
amendment to the Plan, are familiar with the Company's Restated Articles of
Organization and By-Laws, both as amended to date, and have examined such other
documents as we deemed necessary for this opinion. Based upon the foregoing,
we are of the opinion that:
      
        1.  When issued and paid for in compliance with the terms of the Plan,
the 100,000 shares of Common Stock referred to above will be duly and validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and
      
        2.  The additional shares of Common Stock which may become issuable 
under the Plan by reason of stock dividends, stock splits or other
recapitalizations hereafter executed, if and when issued in accordance with the
terms of the Plan and upon compliance with the applicable provisions of law and
of the Company's Restated Articles of Organization and By-Laws, both as amended
to date, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
      
        We understand that this opinion letter is to be used in connection with
the Registration Statement and hereby consent to the filing of this opinion
letter with and as a part of the Registration Statement and of any amendments
thereto. It is understood that this opinion letter is to be used in connection
with the offer and sale of the aforesaid shares only while the Registration 
Statement, as it may be amended from time to time as contemplated by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act, is effective under the Securities Act.
            

                                         Very truly yours,
            
                                         /s/ NUTTER, MCCLENNEN & FISH
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                                         Nutter, McClennen & Fish