content: <PAGE>   1
      This document contains 20 pages. The exhibit index is located on page 5.
        As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 5, 1996
                                                             Registration No. 333
  ================================================================================
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                Washington, DC 20549
  
                                      FORM S-8
  
                               REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                        UNDER
                             THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
                                    GENRAD, INC.
                 (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)
  
            MASSACHUSETTS                                 04-1360950
     (State or other jurisdiction             (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
  of incorporation or organization)
  
  
                 300 BAKER AVENUE, CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS 01742-2174
                      (Address of principal executive offices)
  
                                ------------------ 
  
                             1991 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
                                (Full title of plans)
  
                                ------------------ 
  
            JAMES F. LYONS                                  Copy to:
             GENRAD, INC.                          CONSTANTINE ALEXANDER, ESQ.
           300 BAKER AVENUE                       NUTTER, MCCLENNEN & FISH, LLP
  CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS 01742-2174                  ONE INTERNATIONAL PLACE
            (508) 287-7000                      BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02110-2699
    (Name, address and telephone                        (617) 439-2000
    number of agent for service)
  
                                ------------------ 
  
  <TABLE>
                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  ========================================================================================================================
  <CAPTION>
                                                                    PROPOSED
                                                                    MAXIMUM         PROPOSED MAXIMUM
  TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES TO BE  AMOUNT BEING        OFFERING PRICE PER  AGGREGATE OFFERING        AMOUNT OF
              REGISTERED                  REGISTERED (1)             SHARE                PRICE          REGISTRATION FEE
  - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  <S>                                  <C>                           <C>             <C>                     <C>         
  Common Stock,                          830,000 Shares              $16.69(2)       $13,852,700(2)          $4,776.79(2)
  $1.00 par value per share              570,000 Shares               12.50            7,125,000              2,456.89
                                         350,000 Shares                8.25            2,887,500                995.69
  - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------            
  Total                                1,750,000 Shares                              $23,865,200             $8,227.37
  ========================================================================================================================
  <FN>                               
  (1)     This Registration Statement covers 1,750,000 shares of Common Stock
          under the 1991 Equity Incentive Plan. In addition, this Registration
          Statement also covers an indeterminate number of additional shares of
          Common Stock which may be issued under said Plans as a result of a stock
          dividend, stock split or other recapitalization.
  
  (2)     Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933
          based upon the average of the high and low prices per share of Common
          Stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on 
          June 3, 1996.
  
  </TABLE>
  ================================================================================
  
  <PAGE>   2
                              ---------------------
  
          In accordance with General Instruction E to Form S-8, the contents of
  the registrant's Registration Statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 33-42789,
  33-52009 and 33-53871) relating to the registrant's 1991 Equity Incentive Plan
  (the "Prior Form S-8s") are incorporated by reference in this Registration
  Statement.
  
                              ---------------------
  
          In accordance with General Instruction E to Form S-8, the following
  information is not contained in the Prior Form S-8s:
  
                                       PART II
  
                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  
  ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
           --------------------------------------
  
          Not applicable.
  
  ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.
           --------
  
          See the exhibit index immediately preceding the exhibits attached
  hereto.
  
                                                           
  
                                        -2-
  <PAGE>   3
  
  
                                     SIGNATURES
                                     ----------
  
          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
  the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
  all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
  registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
  duly authorized, in the City of Concord, State of Massachusetts, on the 31st day
  of May 1996.
  
                                        GENRAD, INC.
  
                                        By: /s/ James F. Lyons
                                            ------------------
                                            James F. Lyons
                                            President and Chief Executive Officer
  
          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
  this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons on
  behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
  
        SIGNATURES                      TITLE                            DATE
        ----------                      -----                            ----
  
    /s/ James F. Lyons           President, Chief Executive Officer  May 31, 1996
  - ---------------------------    and Director
        James F. Lyons                             
  
  
  
  
    /s/ Daniel F. Harrington     Vice President, Chief Financial     May 31, 1996
  - ---------------------------    Officer, Principal Accounting
        Daniel F. Harrington     Officer and Secretary
                                                    
  
    /s/ William S. Antle
  - ---------------------------
        William S. Antle III     Director                            May 31, 1996
  
  
  
  
    /s/ Russell A. Gullotti      Director                            May 31, 1996
  - ---------------------------
        Russell A. Gullotti
  
                                        -3-
  <PAGE>   4
    /s/ Lowell B. Hawkinson      Director                            May 31, 1996
  - ---------------------------
        Lowell B. Hawkinson
  
    /s/ Richard G. Rogers        Director                            June 4, 1996
  - ---------------------------
        Richard G. Rogers
  
    /s/ William G. Scheerer      Director                            May 31, 1996
  - ---------------------------
        William G. Scheerer
  
    /s/ Adriana Stadecker        Director                            May 31, 1996
  - ---------------------------
        Adriana Stadecker
  
    /s/ Ed Zschau                Director                            May 31, 1996
  - ---------------------------
        Ed Zschau
  
  
                                        -4-
  <PAGE>   5
  
  <TABLE>
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit No.      Title                                                                     Page
  - -----------      -----                                                                     ----
  
  <S>              <C>                                                                     <C>
  Exhibit 4.1      GenRad, Inc. 1991 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended to date                   6
                   
  Exhibit 5        Opinion of Nutter, McClennen & Fish, LLP                                     17
  
  Exhibit 23.1     Consent of Nutter, McClennen & Fish, LLP                                Contained in Exhibit 5
  
  Exhibit 23.2     Consent of Arthur Anderson LLP                                               19
  
  Exhibit 23.3     Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP                                              20
  </TABLE>
  
  
  
  
                                        -5-
metadata_documents: [{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "GENRAD, INC.", "secsgml_size_bytes": 8750}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "GENRAD INC", "cik": "0000040972", "assigned-sic": "3825", "irs-number": "041360950", "state-of-incorporation": "MA", "fiscal-year-end": "0102"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-05235", "film-number": "96577049"}, "business-address": {"street1": "300 BAKER AVE", "city": "CONCORD", "state": "MA", "zip": "01742", "phone": "5083694400"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "300 BAKER", "city": "CONCORD", "state": "MA", "zip": "01742"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "GENERAL RADIO CO", "date-changed": "19760210"}}
text: 1
      This document contains 20 pages. The exhibit index is located on page 5.
        As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 5, 1996
                                                             Registration No. 333
  ================================================================================
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                Washington, DC 20549
  
                                      FORM S-8
  
                               REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                        UNDER
                             THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
                                    GENRAD, INC.
                 (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)
  
            MASSACHUSETTS                                 04-1360950
     (State or other jurisdiction             (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
  of incorporation or organization)
  
                 300 BAKER AVENUE, CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS 01742-2174
                      (Address of principal executive offices)
  
                                ------------------ 
  
                             1991 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
                                (Full title of plans)
  
                                ------------------ 
  
            JAMES F. LYONS                                  Copy to:
             GENRAD, INC.                          CONSTANTINE ALEXANDER, ESQ.
           300 BAKER AVENUE                       NUTTER, MCCLENNEN & FISH, LLP
  CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS 01742-2174                  ONE INTERNATIONAL PLACE
            (508) 287-7000                      BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02110-2699
    (Name, address and telephone                        (617) 439-2000
    number of agent for service)
  
                                ------------------ 
  
                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  ========================================================================================================================
  PROPOSED
                                                                    MAXIMUM         PROPOSED MAXIMUM
  TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES TO BE  AMOUNT BEING        OFFERING PRICE PER  AGGREGATE OFFERING        AMOUNT OF
              REGISTERED                  REGISTERED (1)             SHARE                PRICE          REGISTRATION FEE
  - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock,                          830,000 Shares              $16.69(2)       $13,852,700(2)          $4,776.79(2)
  $1.00 par value per share              570,000 Shares               12.50            7,125,000              2,456.89
                                         350,000 Shares                8.25            2,887,500                995.69
  - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------            
  Total                                1,750,000 Shares                              $23,865,200             $8,227.37
  ========================================================================================================================
  (1)     This Registration Statement covers 1,750,000 shares of Common Stock
          under the 1991 Equity Incentive Plan. In addition, this Registration
          Statement also covers an indeterminate number of additional shares of
          Common Stock which may be issued under said Plans as a result of a stock
          dividend, stock split or other recapitalization.
  
  (2)     Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933
          based upon the average of the high and low prices per share of Common
          Stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on 
          June 3, 1996.
  ================================================================================
  2
                              ---------------------
  
          In accordance with General Instruction E to Form S-8, the contents of
  the registrant's Registration Statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 33-42789,
  33-52009 and 33-53871) relating to the registrant's 1991 Equity Incentive Plan
  (the "Prior Form S-8s") are incorporated by reference in this Registration
  Statement.
  
                              ---------------------
  
          In accordance with General Instruction E to Form S-8, the following
  information is not contained in the Prior Form S-8s:
  
                                       PART II
  
                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  
  ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
           --------------------------------------
  
          Not applicable.
  
  ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.
           --------
  
          See the exhibit index immediately preceding the exhibits attached
  hereto.
  
                                                           
  
                                        -2-
  3
  
                                     SIGNATURES
                                     ----------
  
          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
  the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
  all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
  registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
  duly authorized, in the City of Concord, State of Massachusetts, on the 31st day
  of May 1996.
  
                                        GENRAD, INC.
  
                                        By: /s/ James F. Lyons
                                            ------------------
                                            James F. Lyons
                                            President and Chief Executive Officer
  
          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
  this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons on
  behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
  
        SIGNATURES                      TITLE                            DATE
        ----------                      -----                            ----
  
    /s/ James F. Lyons           President, Chief Executive Officer  May 31, 1996
  - ---------------------------    and Director
        James F. Lyons                             
  
    /s/ Daniel F. Harrington     Vice President, Chief Financial     May 31, 1996
  - ---------------------------    Officer, Principal Accounting
        Daniel F. Harrington     Officer and Secretary
                                                    
  
    /s/ William S. Antle
  - ---------------------------
        William S. Antle III     Director                            May 31, 1996
  
    /s/ Russell A. Gullotti      Director                            May 31, 1996
  - ---------------------------
        Russell A. Gullotti
  
                                        -3-
  4
    /s/ Lowell B. Hawkinson      Director                            May 31, 1996
  - ---------------------------
        Lowell B. Hawkinson
  
    /s/ Richard G. Rogers        Director                            June 4, 1996
  - ---------------------------
        Richard G. Rogers
  
    /s/ William G. Scheerer      Director                            May 31, 1996
  - ---------------------------
        William G. Scheerer
  
    /s/ Adriana Stadecker        Director                            May 31, 1996
  - ---------------------------
        Adriana Stadecker
  
    /s/ Ed Zschau                Director                            May 31, 1996
  - ---------------------------
        Ed Zschau
  
                                        -4-
  5
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit No.      Title                                                                     Page
  - -----------      -----                                                                     ----
  Exhibit 4.1      GenRad, Inc. 1991 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended to date                   6
                   
  Exhibit 5        Opinion of Nutter, McClennen & Fish, LLP                                     17
  
  Exhibit 23.1     Consent of Nutter, McClennen & Fish, LLP                                Contained in Exhibit 5
  
  Exhibit 23.2     Consent of Arthur Anderson LLP                                               19
  
  Exhibit 23.3     Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP                                              20
  -5-