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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1



                    Consent of Independent Public Accountants

To Thermo Electron Corporation:

         As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the
incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement and related Prospectus
of Thermo Electron Corporation on Form S-4 of our reports dated February 17,
2000 (except with respect to the matters discussed in Note 17, as to which the
date is March 7, 2000) included or incorporated by reference in Thermo Electron
Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 1, 2000, and
to all references to our Firm included in this Registration Statement and
related Prospectus.



                                            /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP

                                            Arthur Andersen LLP



Boston, Massachusetts
June 21, 2000