<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO POWER CORPORATION'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 29, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-03-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-29-1997 <CASH> 36,768 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 19,765 <ALLOWANCES> 571 <INVENTORY> 16,494 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 83,070 <PP&E> 19,045 <DEPRECIATION> 8,571 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 110,820 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 26,659 <BONDS> 278 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,249 <OTHER-SE> 64,616 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 110,820 <SALES> 57,611 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 57,611 <CGS> 47,864 <TOTAL-COSTS> 47,864 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,271 <LOSS-PROVISION> 9 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,177 <INCOME-TAX> 642 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 379 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 379 <EPS-PRIMARY> .03 <EPS-DILUTED> 0