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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,
 FnS1CUrMVoaaZGkxEEevY/LCuo0eyHSeoC9IruGy5t70IrQiULEr860edtAY82rj
 8RkPgL26ioiyhKBtAtJNdQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001257503-05-000004.txt : 20050110
<SEC-HEADER>0001257503-05-000004.hdr.sgml : 20050110
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050110161412
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001257503-05-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030428
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050110
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050110

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000080035
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WATER, SEWER, PIPELINE, COMM AND POWER LINE CONSTRUCTION [1623]
		IRS NUMBER:				340676895
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 91129
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44101

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CURLEE J CECIL JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001257494

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-31164
		FILM NUMBER:		05521139

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4404615200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 91129
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44101
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-04-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000080035</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>plpc</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001257494</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CURLEE J CECIL JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 91129</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLEVELAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President - HR</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.33</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-04-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.33</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-04-28</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-04-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common shares, $2 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Subject shares may be purchased in the amounts and subject to the vesting schedule set forth below:

Vesting date: 04/28/2004 - 5,000 shares
Vesting date: 04/28/2005 - 2,500 shares
Vesting date: 04/28/2006 - 2,500 shares</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>J. Cecil Curlee, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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