-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TxdevceClqqYN2wWB5zYZiwJaBj/cZIoag+E/SGwNRLt2thsNLUC/mHEfl9Qt+6i
 NhVTPEctdDck6wxuNmIDtQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001187505-09-000008.txt : 20090701
<SEC-HEADER>0001187505-09-000008.hdr.sgml : 20090701
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090701174224
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001187505-09-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090701
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090701
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090701

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GARRELS JOHN C III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001240844

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04773
		FILM NUMBER:		09923694

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN BILTRITE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000004611
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PLASTICS PRODUCTS, NEC [3089]
		IRS NUMBER:				041701350
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		57 RIVER STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 302
		CITY:			WELLESLEY HILLS
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02481
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172376655

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		57 RIVER STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 302
		CITY:			WELLESLEY HILLS
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02481

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERICAN BILTRITE RUBBER CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19730621
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-07-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000004611</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN BILTRITE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001240844</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GARRELS JOHN C III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AMERICAN BILTRITE INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>57 RIVER STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WELLESLEY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02481</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.46</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.46</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-01-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-06-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options are granted pursuant to the 1999 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.  The stock options become exercisable six months after the grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Henry W. Winkleman Attorney-in-Fact for John C. Garrels III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-07-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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