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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AnOY0K1S/iJrYArReNTb9JMNdwhcvgMnzHDGiIFvuJjWMacSlm8X67YBuM3GBXAO
 7LgGoAEhQNv1KVFltrLK1Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-012659.txt : 20030721
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-012659.hdr.sgml : 20030721
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030721153801
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-012659
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030717
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030721

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PARMENTER R E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188596

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-56644
		FILM NUMBER:		03794640

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		EATON CENTER
		STREET 2:		1111 SUPERIOR AVENUE
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44114-2584
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2165235000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EATON CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000031277
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES [3714]
		IRS NUMBER:				340196300
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		EATON CTR
		STREET 2:		1111 SUPERIOR AVE
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44114-2584
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2165235000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1111 SUPERIOR AVENUE
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44114

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EATON YALE & TOWNE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710822
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bcl02217_bcl1rep.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-17</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000031277</issuerCik><issuerName>EATON CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ETN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001188596</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>PARMENTER R E</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice President and Treasurer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></securityTitle><trans
actionDate><value>2003-07-17</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>400</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>41.80</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>983.00</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>41.80</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-17</va
lue></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>400.00</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>41.80</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-01-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>400</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1290.00</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><direct
OrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">This field is not applicable</footnote><footnote id="F2">Reporting Person's ownership interests also include 1989.95 indirectly held shares by Eaton Savings Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">These options are exercisable as to one-third the shares granted on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ R.E. Parmenter, by Sean T. Peppard as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-21</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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