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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,
 LvtKIaNd9z3q/qn22Lzj1tnhEPXMD7aqtflBPn5aCCsP0C+ErXCqEkEfP+jhxgwK
 FISiiK/wyhmQCWTEjGc4fw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000916459-09-000089.txt : 20091001
<SEC-HEADER>0000916459-09-000089.hdr.sgml : 20091001
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091001172534
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000916459-09-000089
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091001
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091001

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GARDNER DENVER INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000916459
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	GENERAL INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT [3560]
		IRS NUMBER:				760419383
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1800 GARDNER EXPRESSWAY
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 528
		CITY:			QUINCY
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			62301
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2172225400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1800 GARDNER EXPRESSWAY
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 528
		CITY:			QUINCY
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			62301

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GARDNER DENVER MACHINERY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931221

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HANSEN FRANK J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188213

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13215
		FILM NUMBER:		091099586

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GARDNER DENVER, INC.
		STREET 2:		1800 GARDNER EXPRESSWAY
		CITY:			QUINCY
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			62305
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-09-30</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000916459</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GARDNER DENVER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GDI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188213</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HANSEN FRANK J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>GARDNER DENVER, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1800 GARDNER EXPRESSWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>QUINCY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>62305</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>52.4</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.39</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>52.4</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5603.1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The security converts to common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The cash value of these units will be distributed to the director or beneficiary on the first day of the month following the date upon which the director ceases to be a director of the Company for any reason, (or in no more than twelve installments beginning on the aforementioned date) pursuant to the Company's Phantom Stock Plan for Outside Directors (the &quot;Phantom Plan&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Cumulative phantom stock units accumulated by director during his Board tenure.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Diana C. Toman, Attorney-in-fact for Frank J. Hansen, pursuant to Power of Attorney dated May 6, 2008 and filed with the SEC on May 9, 2008.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Diana C. Toman, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-10-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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