-----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,
 AAb0qcJm1LpFHZwnd9D/Pow0s2bYIkctDjX/ANmkkm5ZcAas1H4bQlgyRHdjGPPv
 PehwPHp+hBxrUwqsGgCgCA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000097745-03-000078.txt : 20030603
<SEC-HEADER>0000097745-03-000078.hdr.sgml : 20030603
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030603172312
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000097745-03-000078
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030602
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030603

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THERMO ELECTRON CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000097745
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MEASURING & CONTROLLING DEVICES, NEC [3829]
		IRS NUMBER:				042209186
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		81 WYMAN ST
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 9046
		CITY:			WALTHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02451
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7816221000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		81 WYMAN ST
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 9046
		CITY:			WALTHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02451

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SYRON RICHARD F/CA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001197930

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08002
		FILM NUMBER:		03730989

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MCKESSON CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE POST ST.
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94104
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4159838300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MCKESSON CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE POST ST
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94104
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>syr107.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-06-02</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000097745</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>THERMO ELECTRON CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TMO</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
		<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197930</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SYRON RICHARD F/CA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>Executive Chairman</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common Stock</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-06-02</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>4276</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>21.20</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>D</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>83492.00</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<footnotes>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Barbara J. Lucas</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-06-03</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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