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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HN3GYCKW3HtSYPrSpqFZLFxJql5zb2CfM4W96keme4GcAF8/Uykkoe5IoXznpiM0
 pB66hZYL0x/QlPfNa681Wg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000902561-04-000544.txt : 20041124
<SEC-HEADER>0000902561-04-000544.hdr.sgml : 20041124
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041124133209
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000902561-04-000544
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040219
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041124
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041124

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NORTHERN TRUST CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000073124
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08676
		FILM NUMBER:		041166358

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 S LASALLE ST
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60675
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3126306000

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NORTRUST CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19780525

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FANSTEEL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000034471
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS [3490]
		IRS NUMBER:				361058780
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NUMBER ONE TANTALUM PL
		CITY:			NORTH CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60064
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7086894900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE TANTALUM PLACE
		STREET 2:		ONE TANTALUM PLACE
		CITY:			NORTH CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60064

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FANSTEEL METALLURGICAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19731202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-19</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000034471</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FANSTEEL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FELI.PK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000073124</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NORTHERN TRUST CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>50 SOUTH LASALLE STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60675</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>518625</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks>1. On January 23, 2004 (the &quot;Effective Date&quot;), Fansteel Inc. was reorganized pursuant to the effectiveness of the Second Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization. As of the Effective Date, the Northern Trust Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reporting Person, was a general unsecured creditor of Fansteel Inc. in the amount of approximately $10.4 million. Substantially all of its shares were acquired in settlement of a portion of its claims.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Orie L. Dudley, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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