<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000042682 <NAME> THE GORMAN-RUPP COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLAR <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 5,139 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 29,619 <ALLOWANCES> 342 <INVENTORY> 33,546 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 71,844 <PP&E> 84,076 <DEPRECIATION> 43,191 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 119,243 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 18,637 <BONDS> 0 <COMMON> 5,141 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 119,243 <SALES> 113,882 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 114,254 <CGS> 85,931 <TOTAL-COSTS> 103,414 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 195 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 245 <INCOME-PRETAX> 10,840 <INCOME-TAX> 4,134 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,706 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,706 <EPS-PRIMARY> .78 <EPS-DILUTED> .78