<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
FERROFLUIDICS CORPORATION'S CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 26, 1998
AND FOR ITS CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE SIX MONTHS THEN ENDED AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH QUARTERLY STATEMENT ON FORM
10-Q FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 26, 1998.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-26-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JUN-28-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-26-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                       3,861,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                9,886,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                   374,000
<INVENTORY>                                 10,246,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            24,574,000
<PP&E>                                      17,859,000
<DEPRECIATION>                              11,361,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              35,790,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        7,369,000
<BONDS>                                      5,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    36,787,000
<OTHER-SE>                                (13,562,000)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                35,790,000
<SALES>                                     12,286,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            12,286,000
<CGS>                                        7,477,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                7,477,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             4,911,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             194,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              (451,000)
<INCOME-TAX>                                     3,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          (454,000)
<DISCONTINUED>                               5,187,000
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 4,733,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .76
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .76