SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                   -------------------------------------------


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                                 Date of Report
                       (Date of earliest event reported):

                                October 24, 2001
                    ----------------------------------------


                           THERMO ELECTRON CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware                                1-8002                        04-2209186
(State or other jurisdiction of    (Commission File             (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)         Number)            Identification Number)

81 Wyman Street, P.O. Box 9046
Waltham, Massachusetts                                                02454-9046
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)



                                 (781) 622-1000
                         (Registrant's telephone number
                              including area code)






     This Current Report on Form 8-K contains  forward-looking  statements  that
involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking
statements  are set forth under the heading "Risk  Factors" in the  Registrant's
Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  December 30, 2000.  These
include  risks and  uncertainties  relating  to:  integration  of the  company's
instrument  businesses,  the ability to improve internal  growth,  liquidity and
prospective  performance of a subsidiary to be spun off, the company's guarantee
of  obligations  of a subsidiary  that was spun off, the effect of exchange rate
fluctuations on international operations,  potential impairment of goodwill, the
need to develop new  products  and adapt to  significant  technological  change,
dependence  on  customers  that  operate in cyclical  industries,  the effect of
changes in  governmental  regulations,  and  dependence  on  customers'  capital
spending policies and government funding policies.

Item 5.  Other Events

     On October 24, 2001, the Registrant issued a press release, attached hereto
as Exhibit 99,  regarding its financial  results for the quarter ended September
29, 2001.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
         ------------------------------------------------------------------


      (a)   Financial Statements of Business Acquired: Not applicable.

      (b)   Pro Forma Financial Information: Not applicable.

      (c)   Exhibits

            99    Press Release October 24, 2001.








                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized, on this 2nd day of November, 2001.


                                   THERMO ELECTRON CORPORATION


                                   By:  /s/ Theo Melas-Kyriazi
                                        -------------------------------------
                                       Theo Melas-Kyriazi
                                       Vice President and Chief Financial
                                       Officer








               Thermo Electron Reports Cash Operating EPS up 10 Percent

WALTHAM,  Mass., October 24, 2001 - Thermo Electron Corporation (NYSE:TMO) today
reported  that diluted cash  operating EPS rose 10 percent to $.22 for the third
quarter of 2001,  compared  with $.20 in the year-ago  period.  Organic  revenue
declined 1 percent, excluding unfavorable foreign currency effects of 1 percent.
Third quarter cash operating margin was 9.8 percent in 2001,  compared with 12.2
percent in 2000.*  Revenues  for the  quarter  were $513  million,  versus  $547
million in 2000.  Approximately $32 million of the quarter-to-quarter  change in
revenues is due to the inclusion in 2000 of businesses  subsequently  sold,  and
currency effects.

     "We  delivered   solid  cash  operating  EPS  growth  this  quarter  in  an
increasingly  challenging economic climate," said Richard F. Syron, chairman and
chief  executive  officer  of Thermo  Electron.  "Revenues  declined  in Optical
Technologies,  and, to a lesser  extent,  in  Measurement  and  Control,  due to
significant  softness in the markets  these  sectors  serve.  However,  our Life
Sciences  sector - less  affected  by the  economy - achieved 6 percent  organic
revenue growth,  with increased  demand for its products and services across the
board.  We did  have  some  disruptions  at the  end of the  quarter  due to the
September 11 events, and we estimate that this reduced third quarter revenues by
approximately  1 percent - about a penny per share in earnings.  We fully expect
to record these revenues in the fourth quarter."

     Mr. Syron continued, "Our margins this quarter were disappointing. A number
of factors  contributed  to the  decline,  including  extremely  poor  financial
results in our Optical  Technologies  sector and a sharp  decline in revenues in
some of our  Measurement  and  Control  businesses  that  have  been hurt by the
economic  slowdown.  Also  affecting  margins were our continued  investments in
developing  next-generation  products - critical to our  long-term  success.  We
continued implementing the significant  restructuring activities we announced in
the second  quarter,  reducing our number of employees by more than 600. We have
also  eliminated  21  facilities,  as  well  as 15  more  through  the  sale  of
businesses. However, we have not yet realized the full benefit of these actions,
and  expect  our cash  operating  margin to  rebound  to above 11 percent in the
fourth quarter.

     "Beyond that, we plan to take additional  restructuring measures during the
fourth quarter, including eliminating another 300 to 500 positions. We also plan
to further  reduce the number of  facilities  by 40 in 2002.  These actions will
help  us  improve  margins.  They  are  also  consistent  with  our  pursuit  of
integrating the company so we can work more  efficiently and serve our customers
better."

     Commenting on the company's future prospects, Mr. Syron said, "The economic
conditions are certainly challenging.  But we believe our technological strength
in diverse markets and our continued drive toward efficiency will serve us well.
We expect to deliver cash operating EPS of $.23 to $.26 for the fourth  quarter,
which would bring us to the low end of our previous guidance of $.91 to $.95 for
the year."

------------------------------------
* Cash  operating  EPS and cash  operating
margin,  except where  otherwise  noted,  exclude  amortization  of goodwill and
intangibles,  restructuring  and unusual items,  and the results of discontinued
operations.  Internal  revenue  growth  figures  exclude  the effects of foreign
currency translation.

                                     -more-


Life Sciences
Internal  revenue  growth  for the Life  Sciences  sector  was 6  percent,  with
revenues  of $201  million.  The  sector  saw  double-digit  growth  in sales of
clinical   diagnostic   products,   including  rapid   point-of-care  tests  and
consumables  -  and  of  laboratory   information   management  systems  to  the
pharmaceutical and biotech industries.  Also contributing to organic growth were
strong sales of magnetic sector mass  spectrometers used for dioxin analysis and
research  applications,  as well as tools for drug discovery,  including the new
TSQ(R) Quantum triple  quadrupole  mass  spectrometer.  During the 2001 quarter,
cash operating income margin for the sector was 15.0 percent, compared with 15.8
percent in 2000.  Margin  improvement in clinical  diagnostics  and  informatics
businesses was more than offset by continued investments in proteomics.

Optical Technologies
Organic revenue for the Optical  Technologies  sector declined 8 percent for the
third quarter, to $119 million. Revenues increased at Spectra-Physics, primarily
due to increased  demand for lasers used in  biomedical  applications.  However,
this  increase  was  more  than  offset  by a steep  revenue  decline  in  other
businesses across the sector serving the  semiconductor  and  telecommunications
markets.  Cash  operating  income  margin for the sector was 3.4 percent for the
2001  quarter,  compared  with 9.1 percent in 2000.  The decline was due to a $3
million  increase in  operating  losses at  Spectra-Physics  primarily  from its
telecom  initiatives,  and  to  lower  revenues  in  most  Optical  Technologies
businesses.

     At the  end  of the  quarter,  Thermo  launched  in  Japan  the  ThetaProbe
spectrometer  under the Thermo VG  Scientific  brand.  The system is used in new
materials R&D applications in various industries to  nondestructively  determine
the depth and chemical  composition  of  ultra-thin  layers.  Thermo has already
received three orders for the systems, which sell for more than $500,000 each.

Measurement and Control
Organic  revenue for the  Measurement  and Control sector declined 4 percent for
the 2001 quarter, to $196 million. While sales of environmental instruments rose
6 percent during the quarter,  and sales of natural gas-flow monitoring products
continued  to be  strong,  the  sector was  negatively  affected  overall by the
slowing  economy.  Cash operating  income margin for the sector was 12.8 percent
for the 2001 quarter, compared with 13.8 percent in 2000. The decline was due to
lower  sales  of  process  instruments  for  the  steel,  cement,  and  chemical
industries, offset in part by cost reductions across the sector.

     During the quarter,  R&D Magazine honored the Antaris(TM)  FT-Near-Infrared
analyzer  with an R&D 100 Award,  citing the  innovative  design of this quality
control instrument marketed under the Thermo Nicolet brand. Thermo also recently
launched under the Thermo  Elemental brand two  groundbreaking  products - the X
Series ICP-MS and the SOLAAR S Series AA spectrometer.  These products set a new
standard   for   elemental   analysis  in  quality   control/quality   assurance
applications   and   demonstrate   Thermo's   leadership  in  turning  the  most
sophisticated  and powerful  analytical  instruments into easy-to-use  tools for
operators with varying levels of training and experience.

     Effective  October 26, 2001, Thermo Electron will change its transfer agent
from  EquiServe to American  Stock  Transfer & Trust  Company.  The new transfer
agent can be reached by telephone at 877-777-0800, or by mail at 59 Maiden Lane,
New York, New York 10038.

     Thermo Electron will hold its earnings conference call on Thursday, October
25, 2001,  at 11 a.m.  EDT. To listen,  dial  888-872-9028  within the U.S.,  or
973-633-6740  outside the U.S. A recording of this call will be available  until
Thursday, November 1, 2001. To listen to the recording, please call 877-519-4471
within the U.S., or  973-341-3080  outside the U.S., and enter code 2876465.  At
the close of business on  Thursday,  an audio  archive will also be available on
www.thermo.com under "Investors."

                                     -more-



     Thermo   Electron   Corporation   is   a   global   leader   in   providing
technology-based instruments, components, and systems that offer total solutions
for markets ranging from life sciences to  telecommunications to food, drug, and
beverage production.  The company's powerful  technologies help researchers sift
through data to make  discoveries  that will fight disease or prolong life. They
allow  manufacturers to fabricate critical  components  required to increase the
speed and quality of communications.  And they automatically monitor and control
online   production  to  ensure  that  quality  standards  are  met  safely  and
efficiently.  Thermo Electron,  based in Waltham,  Massachusetts,  reported $2.3
billion in revenues in 2000 and employs  approximately  12,000 people worldwide.
For more information on Thermo Electron, visit http://www.thermo.com.

     The  following  constitutes  a "Safe  Harbor"  statement  under the Private
Securities   Litigation   Reform  Act  of  1995:  This  press  release  contains
forward-looking  statements  that  involve a number of risks and  uncertainties.
Important  factors that could cause  actual  results to differ  materially  from
those  indicated  by such  forward-looking  statements  are set forth  under the
heading  "Risk  Factors"  in the  company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended  December  30, 2000.  These  include  risks and  uncertainties
relating to: integration of the company's instrument businesses,  the ability to
improve internal growth,  liquidity and prospective  performance of a subsidiary
to be spun off, the company's  guarantee of obligations of a subsidiary that was
spun off, the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on international  operations,
potential impairment of goodwill,  the need to develop new products and adapt to
significant  technological  change,  dependence  on  customers  that  operate in
cyclical  industries,  the effect of changes in  governmental  regulations,  and
dependence  on  customers'  capital  spending  policies and  government  funding
policies.

                                     -more-



Consolidated Statement of Income (Unaudited)


                                                                                             
                                                                           Three Months Ended
                                                            --------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Sept. 29, 2001                Sept. 30, 2000
                                                            -----------------------       --------------------------
(In thousands except per share amounts)                      Reported      Adjusted       Reported       Adjusted (a)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues                                                    $ 512,941     $ 512,941      $ 546,949      $ 542,131
Costs and Operating Expenses:
   Cost of revenues                                           284,455       284,455        320,601        298,247
   Selling, general, and administrative expenses              136,475       136,475        140,876        138,072
   Amortization of goodwill and other intangibles              11,843        11,843         12,111         12,102
   Research and development expenses                           41,962        41,962         40,611         39,931
   Restructuring and other unusual costs (inconme), net         9,571             -        (76,781)             -
                                                            ---------     ---------      ---------      ---------
                                                              484,306       474,735        437,418        488,352
                                                            ---------     ---------      ---------      ---------

Operating Income                                               28,635        38,206        109,531         53,779
Interest Income                                                19,331        19,331          9,970          9,970
Interest Expense                                              (18,353)      (18,353)       (20,493)       (20,493)
Other Income (Expense), Net                                    10,627         6,142        (25,854)          (285)
                                                            ---------     ---------      ---------      ---------
Income from Continuing Operations Before Provision for
  Income Taxes, Minority Interest, and Extraordinary Item      40,240        45,326         73,154         42,971
Provision for Income Taxes                                    (15,090)      (16,997)       (66,043)       (16,717)
Minority Interest (Expense) Income                                527           493            170            (30)
                                                            ---------     ---------      ---------      ---------
Income from Continuing Operations Before Extraordinary Item    25,677        28,822          7,281         26,224
Income from Discontinued Operations (net of income tax provision
  and minority interest of $4,090)                                  -             -          4,998              -
                                                            ---------     ---------      ---------      ---------
Income Before Extraordinary Item                               25,677        28,822         12,279         26,224
Extraordinary Item (net of income tax provision of $362)          602             -              -              -
                                                            ---------     ---------      ---------      ---------
Net Income                                                  $  26,279     $  28,822      $  12,279      $  26,224
                                                            ---------     ---------      ---------      ---------
Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations Before
  Extraordinary Item:
    Basic                                                   $     .14     $     .16      $     .04      $     .15
                                                            =========     =========      =========      =========
    Diluted                                                 $     .14     $     .16      $     .04      $     .15
                                                            =========     =========      =========      =========
Earnings per Share:

    Basic                                                   $     .15     $     .16      $     .07      $     .15
                                                            =========     =========      =========      =========
    Diluted                                                 $     .14     $     .16      $     .07      $     .15
                                                            =========     =========      =========      =========

Diluted Cash Operating Earnings per Share (b)                             $     .22                      $    .20
                                                                          =========                      =========
Weighted Average Shares:

    Basic                                                     180,280       180,280        175,978        175,978
                                                             ========     =========      =========      =========

    Diluted                                                   182,823       183,313        180,440        180,918
                                                            =========     =========      =========      =========



     (a)  Excludes  restructuring  and unusual  items,  results of  discontinued
operations, extraordinary item and, in 2000, the third quarter operating results
of a business sold on July 14, 2000.

     (b)  Excludes  items  from  (a) and  amortization  of  goodwill  and  other
intangibles, net of tax and minority interest, of $10,669,000 and $10,731,000 in
the three months ended September 29, 2001, and September 30, 2000, respectively.




Segment Data (Unaudited) (c)                           Three Months Ended
(In thousands except percentage amounts)       Sept. 29, 2001     Sept. 30, 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Life Sciences
  Revenues                                          $ 200,619         $ 189,911
  Operating Income                                     24,410            24,584
  Operating Income Margin                                12.2%             12.9%

  Cash Operating Income Margin                           15.0%             15.8%

Optical Technologies
  Revenues                                           $ 119,373        $ 129,605
  Operating Income                                       2,086            9,983
  Operating Income Margin                                  1.7%             7.7%

  Cash Operating Income Margin                             3.4%             9.1%

Measurement and Control

  Revenues                                           $ 196,050        $ 227,199
  Operating Income                                      20,996           26,510
  Operating Income Margin                                 10.7%            11.7%

  Cash Operating Income Margin                            12.8%            13.8%

Consolidated (including corporate costs)

  Revenues                                           $ 512,941        $ 542,131
  Operating Income                                      38,206           53,779
  Operating Income Margin                                  7.4%             9.9%

  Cash Operating Income Margin                             9.8%            12.2%

     (c )  Operating  income and  operating  income  margins  as stated  exclude
restructuring  and  unusual  items and,  in 2000,  the third  quarter  operating
results of a business sold on July 14, 2000.

     Cash  operating   income  margins  as  stated  exclude  these  items,   and
amortization of goodwill and other intangibles.



Consolidated Statement of Income (Unaudited)



                                                                                                            
                                                                                          Nine Months Ended
                                                                      --------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           Sept. 29, 2001                     Sept. 30, 2000
(In thousands except per share amounts)                               Reported        Adjusted (a)        Reported      Adjusted (a)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Revenues                                                             $ 1,628,502       $ 1,628,502      $ 1,703,503     $ 1,698,685
Costs and Operating Expenses:
   Cost of revenues                                                      906,700           893,423          942,311         919,957
   Selling, general, and administrative expenses                         428,518           428,518          456,668         453,864
   Amortization of goodwill and other intangibles                         35,465            35,465           32,973          32,964
   Research and development expenses                                     131,033           131,033          135,157         134,477
   Restructuring and other unusual costs (income), net                    44,146                 -          (85,763)              -
                                                                      ----------      ------------     ------------     -----------
                                                                       1,545,862         1,488,439        1,481,346       1,541,262
                                                                      ----------      ------------     ------------     -----------
Operating Income                                                          82,640           140,063          222,157         157,423
Interest Income                                                           54,189            54,189           27,574          27,574
Interest Expense                                                         (57,737)          (57,737)         (65,145)        (65,145)
Other Income (Expense), Net                                               11,259             8,757          (31,109)          6,221
                                                                      ----------      ------------     ------------     -----------
Income from Continuing Operations Before Provision for
   Income Taxes, Minority Interest, Extraordinary Item, and
  Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle                     90,351           145,272          153,477         126,073
Provision for Income Taxes                                               (34,758)          (56,017)         (99,968)        (49,855)
Minority Interest Expense (Income)                                         1,326               464          (10,051)        (10,452)
                                                                      ----------      ------------     ------------      -----------
Income from Continuing Operations Before Extraordinary Item and
  Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle                     56,919            89,719           43,458          65,766
Income from Discontinued Operations (net of income tax provision
  and minority interest of $8,287)                                             -                 -            9,016               -
Provision for Loss on Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net
 (net of income tax benefit of $22,741)                                  (50,440)                -                -               -
Income Before Extraordinary Item and Cumulative Effect of
  Change in Accounting Principle                                           6,479            89,719           52,474          65,766
Extraordinary Item (net of income tax provision of $362 and $333)            602                 -              532               -
                                                                      ----------      ------------     ------------      -----------
Income Before Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting
  Principle                                                                7,081            89,719           53,006          65,766
Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle (net of income
  tax benefit and minority interest of $663 and $8,986)                     (994)                -          (12,918)              -
                                                                      ----------      ------------     ------------     -----------
Net Income                                                            $    6,087         $  89,719       $   40,088        $ 65,766
                                                                      ==========         =========       ==========        =========

Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations Before Extraordinary Item
  and Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle:

    Basic                                                             $      .31         $     .49       $     .27         $    .40
                                                                      ==========         =========       ==========        =========
    Diluted                                                           $      .31         $     .48       $     .25         $    .39
                                                                      ==========         =========       ==========        =========
Earnings per Share:
    Basic                                                             $      .03         $     .49       $     .25         $    .40
                                                                      ==========         =========       ==========        =========
    Diluted                                                           $      .03         $     .48       $     .23         $    .39
                                                                      ==========         =========       ==========        =========
Diluted Cash Operating Earnings per Share (b)                                            $     .66                         $    .55
                                                                                         =========                         =========
Weighted Average Shares:
    Basic                                                                181,588           181,588         162,937          162,937
                                                                      ==========         =========       ==========        =========
    Diluted                                                              185,019           185,500         165,224          165,224
                                                                      ==========         =========       ==========        =========



     (a) Excludes  restructuring  and unusual items,  the  cumulative  effect of
change  in   accounting   principle,   results   of   discontinued   operations,
extraordinary  item and,  in 2000,  the third  quarter  operating  results  of a
business sold on July 14, 2000.

     (b)  Excludes  items  from  (a) and  amortization  of  goodwill  and  other
intangibles, net of tax and minority interest, of $31,598,000 and $26,468,000 in
the nine months ended September 29, 2001, and September 30, 2000, respectively.

                                     -more-


Segment Data (Unaudited) (c)                            Nine Months Ended
(In thousands except percentage amounts)       Sept. 29, 2001     Sept. 30, 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Life Sciences
  Revenues                                        $ 612,349         $  571,240
  Operating Income                                   77,432             77,082
  Operating Income Margin                              12.6%              13.5%

  Cash Operating Income Margin                         15.5%              15.9%

Optical Technologies
  Revenues                                        $ 398,298         $  352,528
  Operating Income                                   25,924             26,911
  Operating Income Margin                               6.5%               7.6%

  Cash Operating Income Margin                           7.9%              8.9%

Measurement and Control
  Revenues                                        $ 629,775         $  788,415
  Operating Income                                   66,145             76,849
  Operating Income Margin                              10.5%               9.7%

  Cash Operating Income Margin                         12.5%              11.5%

Consolidated (including corporate costs)
  Revenues                                        $ 1,628,502       $ 1,698,685
  Operating Income                                    140,063           157,423
  Operating Income Margin                                 8.6%              9.3%

  Cash Operating Income Margin                           10.8%             11.2%


     (c )  Operating  income and  operating  income  margins  as stated  exclude
restructuring  and  unusual  items and,  in 2000,  the third  quarter  operating
results of a business sold on July 14, 2000.  Cash  operating  income margins as
stated exclude these items, and amortization of goodwill and other intangibles.


                                       ###