<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-11-19</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000097745</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>THERMO ELECTRON CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TMO</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001216055</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CASPER MARC N</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>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>0.00</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-11-19</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>30000</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<footnoteId id="F2"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<footnoteId id="F2"/>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>30000.00</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>30000.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Convertible into Common Stock on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F2">The Restricted Stock Units vest in three equal annual installments beginning on November 19, 2004, provided, however, the units do not become Common Stock nor may the Reporting Person sell or otherwise dispose of the shares until his termination of employment.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Barbara J. Lucas, Attorney-in-Fact for M. Casper</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-11-21</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-11-19
0
0000097745
THERMO ELECTRON CORP
TMO
0001216055
CASPER MARC N
81 WYMAN STREET
P.O. BOX 9046
WALTHAM
MA
024549046
0
1
0
0
Senior Vice President
Restricted Stock Units
0.00
2003-11-19
4
A
0
30000
0
A
Common Stock
30000.00
30000.00
D
Convertible into Common Stock on a 1-for-1 basis.
The Restricted Stock Units vest in three equal annual installments beginning on November 19, 2004, provided, however, the units do not become Common Stock nor may the Reporting Person sell or otherwise dispose of the shares until his termination of employment.
By: Barbara J. Lucas, Attorney-in-Fact for M. Casper
2003-11-21