<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
FERROFLUIDICS CORPORATION'S CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 27, 1997
AND ITS CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS THEN ENDED, AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH QUARTER BY STATEMENT ON FORM
10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 27,1997.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000353286
<NAME> FERROFLUIDICS
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-27-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-27-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                       1,061,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                               13,389,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                   210,000
<INVENTORY>                                 14,847,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            31,140,000
<PP&E>                                      19,467,000
<DEPRECIATION>                              11,297,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              44,643,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       17,242,000
<BONDS>                                      5,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    36,575,000
<OTHER-SE>                                (14,345,000)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                22,230,000
<SALES>                                     15,330,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            15,330,000
<CGS>                                       10,777,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               10,777,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             3,399,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             246,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                747,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                    91,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            656,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   656,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .11
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .11