<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE COMBINED
STATEMENT OF EARNINGS AND COMBINED BALANCE SHEET 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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-01-1999          
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-03-1998      
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-01-1999      
<CASH>                                               0 
<SECURITIES>                                         0 
<RECEIVABLES>                                  140,096 
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0 
<INVENTORY>                                     75,822 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               243,281 
<PP&E>                                         208,789 
<DEPRECIATION>                                 121,030 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 395,624 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          138,848 
<BONDS>                                              0 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0 
<PREFERRED>                                          0 
<COMMON>                                             0 
<OTHER-SE>                                     245,756 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   395,624 
<SALES>                                        133,296    
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               133,296       
<CGS>                                           80,666  
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  125,627  
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  7,669 
<INCOME-TAX>                                     3,413 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              4,256 
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0 
<CHANGES>                                            0 
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,256 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.14  
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.14