8-K

                                 UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, DC  20549

                                   FORM 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT



    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)       September 8, 1994      



                               BALL CORPORATION          
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



                                    Indiana                    
                (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)



                 1-7349                         35-0160610            
      (Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer Identification No.)



              345 South High Street, Muncie, IN        47307-0407     
         (Address of principal executive office)            (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code       (317) 747-6100       

                               Ball Corporation
                                   FORM 8-K
                           Dated September 12, 1994


Item 5.  Other Events.

On September 8, 1994, Ball Corporation announced the foreclosure on its
security interest with regard to certain assets sold to SDI Virtual Reality
Corporation in May.  SDI agreed to this action and will return to Ball SDI's
assets located in San Diego.

A copy of the press release issued by Ball announcing the action is attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

   (c)    Exhibits.

     99.1 Press Release dated September 8, 1994
          See Exhibit Index.


                                   SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Ball Corporation
(Registrant)


By:    /s/  R. David Hoover    
     R. David Hoover
     Senior Vice President and
       Chief Financial Officer

Date:           September 12, 1994      

                               Ball Corporation
                                   FORM 8-K
                           Dated September 12, 1994

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit             Description

EX-99.1             Text of press release disseminated by the registrant on
               September 8, 1994.

EX-99.1

                                                  EXHIBIT 99.1



- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------
BALL CORPORATION FORECLOSES
ON VISUAL IMAGING ASSETS
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------



     MUNCIE, Ind., Sept. 8, 1994--Ball Corporation [NYSE:BLL] announced today

that it has foreclosed on its security interest with regard to certain assets

sold to SDI Virtual Reality Corporation in May.  The action, which was agreed

to by SDI, returns to Ball SDI's San Diego assets only, while SDI continues to

operate its other businesses.

     "The sale to SDI of the visual image generating business was consistent

with Ball's long term strategic plan," said George A. Sissel, Ball's acting

president and chief executive officer, "but SDI subsequently experienced

difficulty meeting its financial commitments to us and contractual commitments

to customers and others.  We felt it was in everyone's interest for us to step

in quickly."

     Sissel said Ball will work closely with SDI's affected customers while

examining other options for concluding Ball's participation in the visual image

generating arena.  Ball's 1993 restructuring charge contemplated the

disposition of the visual image generating product line.  Sissel said it is

impossible to determine at this time what additional costs, if any, Ball may

incur as a result of the foreclosure.


     Ball manufactures glass and metal containers for the food and beverage

industries and also provides aerospace and communications products and services

to government and commercial customers.



                                    - end -



16/94     Media Contact: Harold Sohn, 317/747-6483 (days) or 317/573-8279

(nights)

      Investor Contact: Brad Wilks, 317/747-6165 (days) or 317/282-6198

(nights)