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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,
 ET7Hziebj3kAvtgNKHl+XIQCgbfuGh6YbbmNO6B0PowfMXPak8fAmjXzVYYi/WDS
 YKMf6AXKfZEB56zRMJKQwQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001005477-04-004562.txt : 20041222
<SEC-HEADER>0001005477-04-004562.hdr.sgml : 20041222
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041222162457
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001005477-04-004562
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041220
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041222
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041222

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:			TUCKER RONALD E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001230009

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07284
		FILM NUMBER:		041221155

	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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000009342</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BALDOR ELECTRIC CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BEZ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001230009</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TUCKER RONALD E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5711 R S BOREHAM JR ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P O BOX 2400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FORT SMITH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>72902</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CFO &amp; Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3362</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>316</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.71</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1840</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Qualified benefit plans</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares allocated in qualified benefit plans as of 12/20/04.  Includes 433 shares acquired and 1 shares disposed.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Disposed of 316 shares held in a qualified benefit plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Ronald E. Tucker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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