Basis of Presentation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Basis of Presentation [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

1.  Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules for interim periods, do not include all of the information and notes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Dover Corporation (“Dover” or the “Company”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, which provides a more complete understanding of the Company’s accounting policies, financial position, operating results, business properties and other matters.  The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements.  As discussed in Note 9, the Company is reporting certain businesses that were sold during the third and fourth quarters of 2011 as discontinued operations.  Therefore, the Company has classified the results of operations of these businesses as discontinued operations for all periods presented, and the assets and liabilities of discontinued operations are segregated in the consolidated balance sheets.  It is the opinion of management that these financial statements reflect all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the interim results.  The results of operations of any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the full year.