SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q                      


(Mark One)

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
OF 1934  [ X ]

For the quarterly period ended:              June 30, 1997                     

                                       OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
OF 1934  [   ]

For the transition period from________________________to______________________



                          Commission File Number 1-5426.  



                              THOMAS INDUSTRIES INC.                           
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 


            Delaware                                        61-0505332   
(State or other jurisdiction of                           (IRS Employer
 incorporation or organization)                         Identification No.)


4360 Brownsboro Road, Louisville, Kentucky                    40207  
  (Address of principal executive office)                   (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  502/893-4600

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding twelve months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  [ X ]   No  [   ]

The number of shares outstanding of issuer's Common Stock, $1 par value, as of
August 1, 1997, was 10,558,757 shares.


PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Unaudited)


                     THOMAS INDUSTRIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
                 (Dollars in Thousands Except Amounts Per Share)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                Three Months Ended               Six Months Ended
                                                     June 30                          June 30    
                                                  1997       1996                1997        1996


<S>                                            <C>            <C>             <C>         <C>
Net sales                                      $139,989       $127,868        $266,345    $251,392
Cost of products sold                            96,449         90,659         184,548     179,064
                  Gross profit                   43,540         37,209          81,797      72,328
                  

Other (income) expenses:                        
  Selling, general, and
    administrative expenses                      31,931         28,557          62,294      57,712
  Interest expense                                1,677          1,803           3,302       3,730
  Other                                            (274)          (268)           (358)       (438)
    Income before income taxes                   10,206          7,117          16,559      11,324
Income tax provision                              3,776          2,669           6,127       4,251
                    Net income                 $  6,430       $  4,448        $ 10,432    $  7,073

Per share amounts:
  Net income per share                             $.59           $.42            $.96        $.66
  Dividends declared per share                     $.10           $.10            $.20        $.20
  Weighted average number of common
    shares and common share equivalents      10,880,400     10,666,795      10,867,935  10,660,773


See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

</TABLE>


                     THOMAS INDUSTRIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                             (Dollars in Thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             (Unaudited)
                                                                               June 30       December 31
                                                                               1997             1996*
<S>                                                                            <C>            <C>
ASSETS
Current assets
  Cash and cash equivalents                                                     7,821          $ 18,826
  Accounts receivable, less allowance                                          
      (1997--$2,281; 1996--$2,243)                                             76,531            68,239
  Inventories:
      Finished products                                                        38,863            33,072
      Raw materials                                                            20,101            21,622
      Work in process                                                          14,653            14,553
                                                                               73,617            69,247
  Assets held for disposition                                                     495               493
  Deferred income taxes                                                         7,160             7,167
  Other current assets                                                          6,551             6,392
                            Total current assets                              172,175           170,364
Property, plant, and equipment                                                154,896           149,719
  Less accumulated depreciation and amortization                               77,901            71,924
                                                                               76,995            77,795
Intangible assets--less accumulated amortization                               56,728            58,687
Other assets                                                                   13,669            12,804
                                    Total assets                             $319,567          $319,650

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
  Notes payable                                                              $ 10,649          $  6,986
          Accounts payable                                                     26,303            27,377
  Other current liabilities                                                    41,669            42,405
  Current portion of long-term debt                                             7,758             7,758
                       Total current liabilities                               86,379            84,526
Deferred income taxes                                                           8,398             8,603
        Long-term debt (less current portion)                                  54,902            62,632
        Minimum pension liability                                               2,154             2,154
     Other long-term liabilities                                                3,327             4,033
                               Total liabilities                              155,160           161,948
                  
                                                                       
Shareholders' equity
  Preferred Stock, $1 par value,
  3,000,000 shares authorized--none issued
  Common Stock, $1 par value
  Shares authorized:  60,000,000
  Shares issued:  1997--11,581,403; 
                  1996--11,549,940                                             11,581             11,550
  Capital surplus                                                             115,460            115,206
  Retained earnings                                                            58,741             50,420
  Minimum pension liability                                                      (780)              (780)
  Foreign currency translation                                                 (3,383)            (1,482)
  Less cost of treasury shares:
      (1997--1,023,646; 1996--1,023,646)                                      (17,212)           (17,212)
                      Total shareholders' equity                              164,407            157,702
      Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                             $319,567           $319,650

*Derived from the audited December 31, 1996, consolidated balance sheet.
 See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
</TABLE>

                     THOMAS INDUSTRIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (UNAUDITED)
                             (Dollars in Thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>                                                                                   
                                                                                    Six Months Ended
                                                                                         June 30      
                                                                                    1997       1996      
<S>                                                                                <C>        <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:                                              $ 10,432   $   7,073 
  Net income                                                                                          
  Reconciliation of net income to net cash
  provided by operating activities:
      Depreciation and amortization                                                 8,561         8,401
      Deferred income taxes                                                          (152)         (423) 
      Provision for losses on accounts receivable                                     197           319
      Gain on asset disposal                                                          (12)          (58)
      Changes in operating assets and liabilities,
      net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
        Accounts receivable                                                        (9,029)       (7,841)
        Inventories                                                                (5,380)       (2,158)
        Other current assets                                                         (177)        1,388
        Accounts payable                                                           (  239)       (2,543)
        Accrued expenses and other liabilities                                     (1,055)        1,593
        Other                                                                      (1,394)          235
          Net cash provided by operating activities                                 1,752         5,986

Cash flows from investing activities:
  Purchases of property, plant, and equipment                                      (7,476)      (7,534)
  Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment                                 45          102      
      Net cash used in investing activities                                        (7,431)      (7,432)

Cash flows from financing activities:
  Proceeds from short-term debt, net                                                4,328        1,136
  Payments on long-term debt                                                       (7,730)     (11,708)
  Dividends paid                                                                   (2,109)      (2,023)
  Other                                                                               185          749 
Net cash used in financing
activities                                                                         (5,326)     (11,846)

        Decrease in cash and cash equivalents                                     (11,005)     (13,292)

          Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year                           18,826       18,305

            Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                           $  7,821     $  5,013 



See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


</TABLE>



                     THOMAS INDUSTRIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES


NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)


Note A -- Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have 
been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for
interim financial reporting and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article
10-01 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all the information
and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete
financial statements.

The results of operations for the six-month period ended June 30, 1997, are not
necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending
December 31, 1997.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered
necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  For further information,
refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996.


Note B -- Contingencies

In the normal course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are parties
to litigation.  Management believes that these matters will be resolved with no
materially adverse impact on the financial position of the Company.


 
Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis

Net sales during the second quarter ended June 30, 1997, increased 9% over the
second quarter of 1996 to $140.0 million.  For the six months ended June 30,
1997, net sales were 6% higher than the first half of 1996.  Net sales for the
second quarter and six month periods in 1997 are the highest for any comparable
periods in the Company's history.  Lighting Segment sales increased 12% for the
second quarter over 1996, primarily attributable to strong performance in the
Commercial & Industrial Indoor Division.  Compressor and Vacuum Pump Segment
sales were up 4% for the second quarter over 1996, due to increases in the North
American Segment.  

Net income for the 1997 second quarter and first half of $6.4 million and $10.4
million, respectively, is 45% and 47% higher than the comparable 1996 periods. 
The Lighting Segment operating income in the second quarter and first half of
1997 improved 54% and 63%, respectively, compared to last year primarily due to
improvements in the Commercial and Industrial Indoor Division.  Operating income
for the Compressor and Vacuum Pump Segment for the 1997 second quarter and first
half improved 18% and 14% over 1996 levels as both the North American and
European Segments showed improvement.  

Cost of products sold as a percent of sales was reduced to 68.9% and 69.3% for
the 1997 second quarter and six months, respectively, versus 70.9% and 71.2% for
the comparable 1996 periods.  Gross margins in the both Segments in 1997 have
improved due to increased manufacturing efficiencies and ongoing implementation
of cost containment programs.  

Selling, general, and administrative costs as a percent of sales of 22.8 % and
23.4 % in the second quarter and first half of 1997, respectively, were higher
than the 22.3% and 23.0% figures for the comparable 1996 periods.  Additional
expenditures for information systems technology, including costs associated with
Year 2000 software conversion requirements are the primary components of the
increase.

Interest expense for the 1997 second quarter and first six months was less than
comparable 1996 amounts by 7% and 11%, respectively.  The reductions are
attributed to lower short-term interest rates in Europe and a decrease in long-
term debt.  

Working capital of $85.8 million at June 30, 1997, is virtually unchanged from
the amount at December 31, 1996.  Accounts receivable at June 30, 1997, have
increased by 12% since December 31, 1996, due to seasonal factors in the
Lighting Group and the higher sales volume; however, the number of days sales in
receivables at June 30, 1997, compared to December 31, 1996, has improved to
49.0 days from 51.2.  Inventory turnover at June 30, 1997, of 4.40 times per
year has improved over the December 31, 1996, level of 4.34 times per year.  The
current ratio at June 30, 1997, was 1.99 compared to 2.02 at December 31, 1996. 
Certain loan agreements of the Company include restrictions on working capital,
operating leases, tangible net worth, and the payment of cash dividends and
stock distributions.  Under the most restrictive of these arrangements, retained
earnings of $34 million are not restricted at June 30, 1997.  

As of June 30, 1997, the Company had available credit of $42 million with banks
under short-term borrowing arrangements and a revolving line of credit, $39
million of which was unused at June 30, 1997.  Anticipated funds from
operations, along with available short-term credit and other resources, are
expected to be sufficient to meet cash requirements in the year ahead.  Cash in
excess of operating requirements will continue to be invested in high grade,
short-term securities.  



PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

        a.  A regular Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on April 17, 1997.

        b.  Class II Directors elected at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
            were Timothy C. Brown, Wallace H. Dunbar, and Franklin J. Lunding,
            Jr.  Directors whose term of office as a director continued after
            the meeting were Roger P. Eklund, H. Joseph Ferguson, Ralph D.
            Ketchum, Gene P. Gardner, Lawrence E. Gloyd, and William M. Jordan.
                                                                   c.
    The voting at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders was as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                    Proposal No. 1 -- Election of Directors
                          
                                                                For                 Withheld
                            <S>                               <C>                   <C>      
                            Timothy C. Brown                  9,555,730             36,635
                            Wallace H. Dunbar                 9,557,272             35,093
                            Franklin J. Lunding, Jr.          9,556,782             35,583

</TABLE>

            Proposal No. 2 -- Approval of business criteria and material terms
            relating to performance share awards to be granted under the Thomas
            Industries  Inc. 1995 Incentive Stock  Option Plan.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              <S>              <C>                <C>
                                                              For              Against            Abstain
                                                              9,381,787        102,466            108,111

</TABLE>

Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

            (a)  Exhibits

                 (27)  Financial Data Schedule

            (b)  No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter.




                                    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.

                              THOMAS INDUSTRIES INC.  
  
                              Registrant


                              /s/ Phillip J. Stuecker
                              ___________________________________
                              Phillip J. Stuecker, Vice President
                                and Chief Financial Officer

Date      August 14, 1997