1

                                                                    Exhibit 23.1






                         Consent of Independent Auditors


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements
(Form S-8's) pertaining to the 1984 Stock Option Plan (No. 2-98841, Post
Effective Amendment No. 1, dated November 23, 1988), Stock Option Plan for
Non-Employee Directors (No. 33-43625, dated November 1, 1991), 1994 Directors'
Stock Compensation Plan (No. 33-84032, dated September 13, 1994), Robbins &
Myers, Inc. Employee Savings Plan (No. 33-61893, dated August 17, 1995), Robbins
& Myers, Inc. 1994 Long-term Incentive Plan (No. 333-00291, dated January 19,
1996), Robbins & Myers, Inc. 1995 Stock Option Plan for Non-employee Directors
(No. 333-00293, dated January 19, 1996), Robbins & Myers, Inc. Savings Plan for
Union Employees (No. 333-00289 dated February 7, 1996) and the Registration
Statement (Form S-3) pertaining to Investor Stock Purchase Plan (No. 333-31235,
dated July 14, 1997) of our report dated October 4, 1999, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements and schedule of Robbins & Myers, Inc. and
Subsidiaries, included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended
August 31, 1999.



                                                      /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Dayton, Ohio
November 19, 1999