-----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,
 SZxdGyvx9yh5E7WA7NHrEpoaLRteOc7N5Efcqt/G3D6Xr9bMMr3frrbevo2K1r2W
 dwkOvDEBbjjCttBm1MSueA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001005477-03-000471.txt : 20030507
<SEC-HEADER>0001005477-03-000471.hdr.sgml : 20030507
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030507171220
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001005477-03-000471
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030505
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030507

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BALDOR ELECTRIC CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000009342
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MOTORS & GENERATORS [3621]
		IRS NUMBER:				430168840
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MO
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5711 R S BOREHAM JR ST
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 2400
		CITY:			FORT SMITH
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72902-2400
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5016464711

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PROOST ROBERT L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001229980

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07284
		FILM NUMBER:		03686758

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5711 R S BOREHAM JR ST
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 2400
		CITY:			FORT SMITH
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72902
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar123.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-05-05</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
<issuer>        <issuerCik>0000009342</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BALDOR ELECTRIC CO</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>BEZ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwnerId>
        <rptOwnerCik>0001229980</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PROOST ROBERT L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-employee stock option</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>21.31</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-05</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>3240</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-05-05</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-05-05</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>3240</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>3240</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-employee stock option</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>11.155</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-05</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>2160</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-05-05</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-05-05</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>2160</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>2160</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert L. Proost</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----