-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-013959.txt : 20040303
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-013959.hdr.sgml : 20040303
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040303144716
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-013959
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040302
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040303

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FARRELL W JAMES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001021872

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04797
		FILM NUMBER:		04645742

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		UAL CORP
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 66919
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60666
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8477004000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000049826
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	GENERAL INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT [3560]
		IRS NUMBER:				361258310
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3600 W LAKE AVE
		CITY:			GLENVIEW
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60025-5811
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8476574106

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3600 WEST LAKE AVENUE
		CITY:			GLENVIEW
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60025-5811
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c83441_01wjf.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000049826</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ITW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001021872</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FARRELL W JAMES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>276</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>79.40</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50541</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>1998-08-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                    <value>192716</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>34.59</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>1999-11-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-11-23</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-05-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>1997-12-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>54.62</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1998-12-12</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-12-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>33.375</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>1996-05-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>38504</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.375</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1997-05-03</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-05-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>38504</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>38504</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>33.375</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>1996-05-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>311496</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.375</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1997-05-03</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-05-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>311496</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>311496</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>J.M. Investment Partners L.P.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>58.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>1998-12-11</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>58.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-12-11</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-12-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>65.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>1999-12-17</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>65.50</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-12-17</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>200000</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                    <value>450000</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-12-15</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-12-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>450000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>450000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>62.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2001-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>400000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>62.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-12-14</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-12-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>400000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>400000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">31,901 shares held in revocable trust</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">18,640 shares held in JM investment partners L.P.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">6,983 shares allocated to my account in the Illinois Tool Works Inc. Savings &amp; Investment Plan -- Information reported as of 3/2/04.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes Grant of Restricted Stock vesting over 3 year period:  12/16/03, 12/16/04, 12/16/05.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Includes Grant of 93,333 shares of Restricted Stock vesting over 3 year period:  12/16/04, 12/16/05, 12/18/06</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Options received for 75 shares of Premark International pursuant to merger with ITW.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Options vest in four equal annual installments beginning one year from date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Options vest in five equal annual installments beginning one year from date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>W. James Farrell by S. S. Hudnut, Sr. V.P., Gen. Counsel &amp; Secretary   Attorney-In-Fact   POA on File</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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