<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
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    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-07-25</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000097745</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>THERMO ELECTRON CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TMO</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
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            <rptOwnerName>DEKKERS MARIJN E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
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            <rptOwnerStreet2>POST OFFICE BOX 9046</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALTHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02454</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
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				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-07-25</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
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			<transactionCoding>
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				<transactionShares>
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				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
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				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
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					<value>41574.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
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					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
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		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
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			<transactionDate>
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			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
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				<transactionPricePerShare>
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				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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			<postTransactionAmounts>
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			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
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					<value/>
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		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
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			<transactionDate>
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			<deemedExecutionDate>
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				<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
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			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
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				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>22.12</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>32874.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
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					<value/>
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		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
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				<value>Common Stock</value>
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			<transactionDate>
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			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
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				<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
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				<transactionShares>
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				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
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				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>32774.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
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					<value/>
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		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
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			<transactionDate>
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				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>2700</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>22.14</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>30074.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-07-25</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>100</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>22.02</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>29974.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
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			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-07-25</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
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				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>3916</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>22.03</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
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			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>26058.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
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					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
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		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-07-25</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>8900</value>
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				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>22.04</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>17158.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
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					<value/>
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		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
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			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-07-25</value>
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			<deemedExecutionDate>
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				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>5000</value>
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				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>22.05</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
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			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>12158.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
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					<value/>
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		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
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				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-07-25</value>
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			<deemedExecutionDate>
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				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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				<transactionShares>
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				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>22.07</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
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			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>10058.00</value>
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			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
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					<value/>
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			</ownershipNature>
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		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
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			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-07-25</value>
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			<deemedExecutionDate>
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				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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				<transactionShares>
					<value>2100</value>
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				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>22.08</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>7958.00</value>
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				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
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					<value/>
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		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
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			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-07-25</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>4500</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>22.09</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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					<value>3458.00</value>
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			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
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				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
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	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Barbara J. Lucas, Attorney-in-Fact for M. Dekkers</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-07-28</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-07-25
0
0000097745
THERMO ELECTRON CORP
TMO
0001216068
DEKKERS MARIJN E
81 WYMAN ST
POST OFFICE BOX 9046
WALTHAM
MA
02454
1
1
0
0
Chief Executive Officer
Common Stock
2003-07-25
4
S
0
7200
22.10
D
41574.00
D
Common Stock
2003-07-25
4
S
0
6800
22.11
D
34774.00
D
Common Stock
2003-07-25
4
S
0
1900
22.12
D
32874.00
D
Common Stock
2003-07-25
4
S
0
100
22.13
D
32774.00
D
Common Stock
2003-07-25
4
S
0
2700
22.14
D
30074.00
D
Common Stock
2003-07-25
4
S
0
100
22.02
D
29974.00
D
Common Stock
2003-07-25
4
S
0
3916
22.03
D
26058.00
D
Common Stock
2003-07-25
4
S
0
8900
22.04
D
17158.00
D
Common Stock
2003-07-25
4
S
0
5000
22.05
D
12158.00
D
Common Stock
2003-07-25
4
S
0
2100
22.07
D
10058.00
D
Common Stock
2003-07-25
4
S
0
2100
22.08
D
7958.00
D
Common Stock
2003-07-25
4
S
0
4500
22.09
D
3458.00
D
By: Barbara J. Lucas, Attorney-in-Fact for M. Dekkers
2003-07-28