<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM COMBINED
STATEMENT OF EARNINGS AND COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS FOR THE INSTRUMENTS BUSINESS
OF VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR                              YEAR              
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-02-1998             SEP-26-1997                   SEP-27-1996          
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-27-1997             SEP-28-1996                   SEP-30-1995      
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-02-1998             SEP-26-1997                   SEP-27-1996      
<CASH>                                               0                       0                             0
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  143,836                 131,641                             0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                             0
<INVENTORY>                                     71,575                  64,797                             0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               241,671                 221,161                             0
<PP&E>                                         219,385                 201,373                             0
<DEPRECIATION>                                 124,666                 114,448                             0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 404,099                 357,906                             0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          149,578                 144,059                             0
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                             0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                             0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                     243,467                 203,296                             0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   404,099                 357,906                             0
<SALES>                                        557,770                 541,946                       504,394    
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               557,770                 541,946                       504,394       
<CGS>                                          336,387                 330,845                       310,753  
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  518,606                 515,144                       492,947  
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                             0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                             0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0                       0                             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 39,164                  26,802                        11,447 
<INCOME-TAX>                                    15,736                  12,597                         5,277
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             23,428                  14,205                         6,170
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                             0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                    23,428                  14,205                         6,170
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.78                    0.47                          0.20  
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.78                    0.47                          0.20