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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QPSXiuYA60M0kkQ0TsyLUY+dbsR+a9GuWQcsRRwWBvZdwZ9tTW6B5+L5VH9wYuDp
 IgBDxO9LGnlNu9JAxe7UqA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000097745-03-000183.txt : 20031202
<SEC-HEADER>0000097745-03-000183.hdr.sgml : 20031202
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031202135842
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000097745-03-000183
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031125
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MELAS KYRIAZI THEO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001216078

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08002
		FILM NUMBER:		031032132

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		81 WYMAN ST
		STREET 2:		POST OFFICE BOX 9046
		CITY:			WALTHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02454

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>mel177.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-11-25</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000097745</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>THERMO ELECTRON CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TMO</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001216078</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MELAS KYRIAZI THEO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>81 WYMAN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 9046</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALTHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>024549046</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>VP &amp; Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-11-25</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>3139</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>84387.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
		<nonDerivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>1715.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>I</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value>By 401(k)</value>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeHolding>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Barbara J. Lucas, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-12-02</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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