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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AdxB9qJ3qUR7U1QbSOfLJLDGw04o9nkCPUTyKKBbKwYdtEJfLafL03L7o3X40qBb
 /BQoTe/2gRBetm6zHdxrhQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-015325.txt : 20030804
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-015325.hdr.sgml : 20030804
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030804171000
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-015325
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030723
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030804

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GROSS THOMAS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205244

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-56644
		FILM NUMBER:		03821362

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		DANAHER CORP
		STREET 2:		2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW 12TH FL
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20006
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2029280850

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		DANAHER CORP
		STREET 2:		2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW 12TH FL
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20006
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bcl02485_bcl1tsg.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-23</periodOfReport><noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned><issuer><issuerCik>0000031277</issuerCik><issuerName>EATON CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ETN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001205244</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>GROSS THOMAS</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>EATON CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>1111 SUPERIOR AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>CLEVELAND</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>44114</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>V.P. - Eaton Business System</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDe
rivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>84.5771</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by trustee of Eaton Savings Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10700.00</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>69.29</value></conversionOrExerci
sePrice><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-02-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>14000.00</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>79.36</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F4" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-01-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>100800.00</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</
value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Phantom Share Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0.00</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2382.00</value><footnoteId id="F6" /></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Phantom Share Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0.00</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate>
<value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3350.00</value><footnoteId id="F6" /></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Phantom Share Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0.00</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3200.00</value><footnoteId id="F6" /></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></d
irectOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Phantom Share Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0.00</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3000.00</value><footnoteId id="F6" /></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">These shares represent restriced shares issued under an Eaton Corporation stock plan and are subject to risk of forfeiture.  Shares begin to vest on January 1, 2006.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Granted under an employee stock option p
lan pursuant to Rule 16b-3</footnote><footnote id="F3">These options are exercisable as to one-third of the shares granted on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant.</footnote><footnote id="F4">These options are exercisable as to one-fifth of the shares granted on each of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the date of grant.</footnote><footnote id="F5">This field is not applicable</footnote><footnote id="F6">Phantom Share Units acquired pursuant to the Eaton Corporation Incentive Compensation Deferral plan.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Thomas S. Gross by Claudia J. Taller as Attorney in Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-04</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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