<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 31

                                 CERTIFICATIONS


I, Ralph R. Papitto, certify that:

1.    I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Lynch Corporation;

2.    Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual
report;

3.    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the
financial condition, results of operation and cash flows of the Registrant as
of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

4.    The Registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)), [inapplicable language
intentionally omitted] for the Registrant and have:

(a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
      disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision,
      to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including
      its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
      entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is
      being prepared;

(b)   [Intentionally omitted]

(c)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and
      procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
      effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of
      the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)   Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant's internal control
      over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant's most recent
      fiscal quarter that has been materially affected, or is reasonably likely
      to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial
      reporting; and

5.    The Registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on
our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the
Registrant's auditors and the audit committee of Registrant's board of directors
(or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)   All significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal
      control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely
      affect the Registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report
      financial information; and

(b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
      employees who have a significant role in the Registrant's internal control
      over financial reporting.

Date: April 13, 2004

      /s/ Ralph R. Papitto
      ------------------------------------
      Ralph R. Papitto
      Chairman and Chief Executive Officer



<PAGE>


                                                                    EXHIBIT 31

                                 CERTIFICATIONS


I, Raymond H. Keller, certify that:

1.    I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Lynch Corporation;

2.    Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual
report;

3.    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the
financial condition, results of operation and cash flows of the Registrant as
of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

4.    The Registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)), [inapplicable language
intentionally omitted] for the Registrant and have:

(a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
      disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision,
      to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including
      its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
      entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is
      being prepared;

(b)   [Intentionally omitted]

(c)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and
      procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
      effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of
      the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)   Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant's internal control
      over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant's most recent
      fiscal quarter that has been materially affected, or is reasonably likely
      to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial
      reporting; and

5.    The Registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on
our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the
Registrant's auditors and the audit committee of Registrant's board of directors
(or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)   All significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal
      control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely
      affect the Registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report
      financial information; and

(b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
      employees who have a significant role in the Registrant's internal control
      over financial reporting.

Date: April 13, 2004

      /s/ Raymond H. Keller
      ------------------------------------------
      Raymond H. Keller
      Vice President and Chief Financial Officer