Exhibit 5.3


         (Schmiedeskamp, Robertson, Neu & Mitchell letterhead)





                             August 3, 1999



Board of Directors
Gardner Denver, Inc.
1800 Gardner Expressway
Quincy, Illinois 62301

        Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8
             Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended

Gentlemen:

        We have served as counsel to Gardner Denver, Inc. (the "Company")
in connection with the various legal matters relating to the filing of a
registration statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Rules and Regulations
promulgated thereunder, relating to 500,000 shares (the "Shares") of
common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"), reserved for issuance in accordance with the Company's Long-
Term Incentive Plan, as amended (the "Plan").

        We have examined such corporate records of the Company, such laws
and such other information as we have deemed relevant, including the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, certain resolutions
adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company relating to the Plan
and certificates received from state officials and from officers of the
Company.  In delivering this opinion, we have assumed the genuineness of
all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
originals, the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to
us as certified, photostatic or conformed copies, and the correctness of
all statements submitted to us by officers of the Company.




Board of Directors
Page 2
August 3, 1999



        Based upon the foregoing, the undersigned is of the opinion that:

        1.   The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly
             existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
             Delaware.

        2.   The Shares being offered by the Company, if issued in
             accordance with the Plan, will be validly issued and
             outstanding and will be fully paid and non-assessable.

        We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the Registration
Statement.  We also consent to your filing copies of this opinion as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement with agencies of such states as
you deem necessary in the course of complying with the laws of such
states regarding the issuance of the Shares pursuant to the Plan.

                          Sincerely,

                          Schmiedeskamp, Robertson, Neu & Mitchell


                          By:      /s/Harold B. Oakley
                             -------------------------------------
                                      Harold B. Oakley