-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Tk4keEAbny97xri2yZD3n38j7r9X0BaWb7tdLiPfChS75noayBjU0jsGWVcQi+d/
 C/XNWtFEzeHw1R65a2nFZg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000916459-09-000117.txt : 20091125
<SEC-HEADER>0000916459-09-000117.hdr.sgml : 20091125
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091125131907
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000916459-09-000117
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091123
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091125
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091125

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SZEWS CHARLES L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001230604

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13215
		FILM NUMBER:		091207523

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
</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>2009-11-23</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001230604</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SZEWS CHARLES L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>OSHKOSH CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2307 OREGON STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OSHKOSH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>54902</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stk Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-11-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6.7</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>37.89</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6.7</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5088.1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </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">Each unit was credited for the dividend equivalent as of the dividend record date pursuant to the Company's Phantom Stock Plan for Outside Directors (&quot;Phantom Plan&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">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 Phantom Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Cumulative phantom stock units accumulated by director during his Board tenure.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Diana C. Toman, Attorney-in-fact for Charles L. Szews, 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>2009-11-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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