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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 I05xb5C7ZPT2ZvalpLdmWfikRHzY2+zShoN0K7p4L8Mxif0wCjgMCtUeZID7e3xl
 fSRZQ3DRDpS3fWrBY2PRAw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000916459-10-000076.txt : 20100507
<SEC-HEADER>0000916459-10-000076.hdr.sgml : 20100507
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100507101058
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000916459-10-000076
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100505
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100507
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100507

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:			ARNOLD MICHAEL C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001234013

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13215
		FILM NUMBER:		10810506

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O THE TIMKEN COMPANY
		STREET 2:		1835 DUEBER AVE., S.W. P.O. BOX 6928
		CITY:			CANTON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44706-0926
</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>2010-05-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001234013</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ARNOLD MICHAEL C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE TIMKEN COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1835 DUEBER AVENUE SW</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CANTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44706-2798</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Nonemployee Director Stock Option (Right-to-buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>49.30</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-05-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-05-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-05-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-05-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</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>1000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options, granted under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended, fully vest one year from issue date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of the Company's common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The restricted stock units granted under the Company's Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan, cliff vest on 5/5/2013.  The Company will issue to the Director the shares of Common Stock underlying the vested RS Units, no later than the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Company's fiscal year in which the RS Units vest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Brent A. Walters, Attorney-in-fact for Michael C. Arnold, pursuant to Power of Attorney dated November 13, 2009  and filed with the SEC on January 5, 2010.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>//Brent A. Walters, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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