-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VwSNkVu2qeFqCNIHBAYAYVg4JQsdr2gzQMIRthqRDh3hCFEkcjk0zslhGCl6MJwv
 CpaDkTxm7V0Tvfy5TQ07cg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209989-05-000004.txt : 20050203
<SEC-HEADER>0001209989-05-000004.hdr.sgml : 20050203
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050203164828
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209989-05-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050203
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050203

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOHNSON DUDLEY D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001209982

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-00179
		FILM NUMBER:		05573901

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O YOUNG FRANKLIN INC
		STREET 2:		942 OLD LIVERPOOL RD
		CITY:			LIVERPOOL
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			13088

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTRAL SECURITIES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000018748
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				131875970
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		630 FIFTH AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 820
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10111
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-698-2020

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		630 FIFTH AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 820
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10111

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TRANS CENTRAL SECURITIES CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19700722

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BUERGER LADET & RADINSKY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19671026
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000018748</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTRAL SECURITIES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CET</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001209982</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JOHNSON DUDLEY D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O YOUNG FRANKLIN INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>942 OLD LIVERPOOL RD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LIVERPOOL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>13088</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>W</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>316</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11999</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12762</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Dissoway Inc. holding company</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19802</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>As Trustee of Young &amp; Franklin Retirement Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes shares received 12-27-04 in a non-reportable transaction.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares received from estate.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Marlene A. Krumholz as Attorney-in-Fact for Dudley D. Johnson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----