<PAGE>
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  FORM 10-Q



   (Mark One) 

    X   Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
   ____ Exchange Act of 1934 for the quarterly period ended March 29, 1997 or
      

   ____ Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
        Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period _________________ to
        ______________


        Commission File Number:  0-8588


                     TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
            ______________________________________________________
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


        Massachusetts                                  04-2295040 
   _________________________________   _______________________________________
   (State or other jurisdiction        (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
   of incorporation or organization)


       100 Domino Drive, Concord, MA                   01742-2892         
   ________________________________________       ____________________
   (Address of principal executive offices)            (zip code)


   Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  508-287-5100
                                                        ____________


                                     N/A
            ____________________________________________________
            (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, 
                        if changed since last report)

   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 12 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 
                                _____         _____

   Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's
   classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.  Number of
   shares of Common Stock, $.10 par value per share, outstanding as of
   May 8, 1997: 1,272,203.

                              

<PAGE>
                                    INDEX



                                                                       Page


   PART I      Financial Information

   Item 1.     Financial Statements:

               Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets,
               as of March 29, 1997 (unaudited) and September 28, 1996   1 


               Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, 
               Three (3) months ended Mar. 29, 1997 and Mar. 30, 1996   
                   (unaudited)
               Six (6) months ended Mar. 29, 1997 and Mar. 30, 1996
                   (unaudited)                                           2 


               Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows,
               Six (6) months ended Mar. 29, 1997 and Mar. 30, 1996
                   (unaudited)                                           3 


               Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements      4 


   Item 2.     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial 
               Condition and Results of Operations                       6 


   PART II     Other Information                                         8 


               Signatures                                               10 


<PAGE>
        PART I.  Financial Information - Item 1.  Financial Statements
            TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  March 29, 1997    September 28, 1996
                                                   (Unaudited)                       
                                                  ______________    __________________
    <S>                                           <C>               <C>

    Assets
    ______
    Current Assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                   $  3,312,859         $  6,381,026
      Accounts receivable - trade, less
        allowance for doubtful accounts of             
        $53,707 at 3/29/97 and 9/28/96               4,651,598            3,219,124  
      Inventories (Note 1)                           3,099,305            2,615,772  
      Other current assets                             149,082              199,122
                                                  ______________    __________________

         Total current assets                     $ 11,212,844         $ 12,415,044
                                                  ______________    __________________


    Equipment and leasehold improvements             4,366,867            4,223,816  
      Less: accumulated depreciation and
         amortization                                2,965,710            2,646,683
                                                  ______________    __________________

                                                     1,401,157            1,577,133
                                                  ______________    __________________


    Goodwill                                         1,614,131            1,614,131  
      Less: accumulated amortization                   394,078              286,623  
                                                  ______________    __________________

                                                      1,220,053            1,327,508
                                                  ______________    __________________


    Other assets                                       680,348              680,348
                                                  ______________    __________________

                                                   $ 14,514,402         $ 16,000,033  
                                                  ______________    __________________


    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
    ____________________________________
    Current Liabilities:
      Accounts payable                             $ 1,166,790          $   504,860  
      Long-term debt - current portion (Note 2)        613,129            1,145,175  
      Accrued liabilities:
        Compensation and related expenses              401,414              597,938
        Other                                        1,519,706            2,019,303  
                                                  ______________    __________________

           Total current liabilities               $ 3,701,039          $ 4,267,276
                                                  ______________    __________________

           
      Long-term debt - current portion (Note 2)            ---            1,200,000  
    
        
    Stockholders' Equity
      Common stock, par value $.10 per share;
        authorized 3,500,000 shares; issued and
        outstanding 1,272,203 shares at 3/29/97
        and 1,264,496 shares at 9/28/96                127,220              126,450
      Treasury stock at cost, 10,000 shares            (80,000)             (80,000)
      Additional paid-in capital                     1,513,558            1,473,643  
      ESOP deferred compensation (Note 2)             (613,129)            (695,175) 
      Retained earnings                              9,865,714            9,707,839  
                                                  ______________    __________________

                                                  $ 10,813,363         $ 10,532,757
                                                  ______________    __________________

           Total stockholders' equity             $ 14,514,402         $ 16,000,033  
                                                  ______________    __________________

</TABLE>

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated 
   financial statements.


                                     Page 1

<PAGE>

            TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
               Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
                                 (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    Quarter Ended             Six Months Ended
                              ________________________   ________________________
                
                                Mar. 29,      Mar. 30,     Mar. 29,      Mar. 30,
                                  1997          1996         1997          1996
                              ___________  ___________   ___________   ___________
    <S>                       <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>

    Net Sales                 $ 4,054,348  $ 3,695,727   $ 7,112,462   $ 5,836,567
    Cost of Sales               1,389,811    1,679,756     2,594,563     2,669,671  
                              ___________  ___________   ___________   ___________

    Gross Profit               2,664,537    2,015,971     4,517,899     3,166,896  
                              ___________  ___________   ___________   ___________


    Operating Expenses:
      Selling, general and ad- 
        ministrative expenses  1,967,513    1,114,092     3,355,880     2,174,702  
      Product development costs  556,629      490,782     1,002,340       956,598  
                              ___________  ___________   ___________   ___________

                               2,524,142    1,604,874     4,358,220     3,131,300
                              ___________  ___________   ___________   ___________


    Operating Profit             140,395      411,097       159,679        35,596  
                              ___________  ___________   ___________   ___________


    Other Income (Expense):
      Interest income             36,416       61,369        84,445       115,590  
      Interest expense           (13,554)     (61,421)      (43,728)     (129,595) 
      Other income (expense)        (692)       7,709        10,226        12,877  
                              ___________  ___________   ___________   ___________

                                  22,170        7,657        50,943        (1,128)
                              ___________  ___________   ___________   ___________

        Income before income 
           taxes                 162,565      418,754       210,622        34,468
    

    Income Taxes                  40,641      104,689        52,747         8,617  
                              ___________  ___________   ___________   ___________
    
    Net Income                $  121,924   $  314,065    $  157,875    $   25,851 
                              ___________  ___________   ___________   ___________

    
    Earnings Per Common Share:
      (Note 3)                   $  .09       $  .25        $  .12        $  .02
     

    Weighted Avg. Shares Used
    in Computation              1,270,181    1,254,426     1,268,192     1,254,426  

</TABLE>
      

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated 
   financial statements.

                                     Page 2


<PAGE>
            TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
               Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                                 (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 Six Months Ended
                                                                 _________________

                                                           March 29, 1997   March 30, 1996
                                                           ______________   ______________
    <S>                                                    <C>              <C>

    Operating Activities:
      Net income (loss)                                    $   157,875      $    25,851  



    Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net
      cash provided (used) by operating activities:
        Depreciation and amortization                          426,482          384,555
        Non-cash compensation associated with ESOP              82,046          123,068   
                                                           ______________   ______________

                                                               666,403          533,474

    Changes in assets and liabilities:
      Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable            (1,432,474)       1,298,105   
      Increase in inventories                                 (483,533)        (469,039)  
      Decrease (increase) in other current assets               50,040          (12,415)  
      Decrease in accrued and deferred income taxes           (609,223)        (151,584)  
      Increase in other assets                                    ---            (2,053)  
      Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued             
        liabilities                                            575,032         (463,287)
                                                           ______________   ______________

                                                            (1,900,158)         199,727   

        
        Net cash provided (used) by operating activities    (1,233,755)         733,201   


    Investing Activities:
      Additions to equipment and leasehold improvements       (143,051)        (126,534)  
                                                           ______________   ______________

        Net cash used by investing activities                 (143,051)        (126,534)


    Financing Activities:
      Proceeds from stock issuance                              40,685              ---   
      Payment of debt                                       (1,732,046)        (348,068)
                                                           ______________   ______________

      Net cash used by financing activities                 (1,691,361)        (348,068)  
                                                             

      Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
        equivalents                                         (3,068,167)         258,599  


    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period     6,381,026        3,877,790   
                                                           ______________   ______________


    Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period     $ 3,312,859      $ 4,136,389  
                                                           ______________   ______________

        Supplemental disclosures:
      Interest paid                                        $    41,778      $   129,595  
      Income taxes paid (net of refunds received)              659,000          169,598

</TABLE>


   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated 
   financial statements.


                                     Page 3


<PAGE>

            TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

             NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
             ____________________________________________________


                        STATEMENT OF FAIR PRESENTATION
                        ______________________________


   Interim Financial Statements.
   ____________________________

   The accompanying unaudited financial statements include all adjustments
   (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) which are, in the opinion
   of management, necessary for fair presentation of the results of operations
   for the periods presented.  Interim results are not necessarily indicative
   of the results to be expected for a full year.

   Certain information on footnote disclosures normally included in
   financial statements prepared in accordance with general accepted
   accounting principals has been condensed or omitted as allowed by Form
   10-Q.  The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements
   should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial
   statements for the year ending September 28, 1996 as filed with the
   Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K.

   NOTE 1.     Inventories
   _______     ___________

   Inventories consisted of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  March 29, 1997    September 28, 1996
                                  ______________    __________________
              <S>                 <C>               <C>

              Raw Materials         $ 1,754,523        $ 1,751,793

              Work in Process         1,244,029            853,422    
              
              Finished Goods            100,753             10,557    
                                  ______________    __________________

                                    $ 3,099,305        $ 2,615,772
                                  ______________    __________________
</TABLE>


   NOTE 2.     Long-term Debt
   _______     ______________

   As of March 29, 1997, the Company had a $2,500,000 line of credit at a
   rate of prime plus 1/2 of 1%.  This line of credit is secured by a
   pledge of substantially all the assets of the Company and was due to
   mature on April 30, 1997.  Availability under the line of credit had
   been reduced by $68,926 for outstanding standby letters of credit (as of
   March 29, 1997).  Other than these standby letters of credit, the
   Company had no borrowings under the line of credit at March 29, 1997. 
   During April 1997, the Company renewed and increased its line of credit
   to $3,500,000 with an amended expiration date of May 1, 1998.

   On November 17, 1989, the Company established the Technical
   Communications Corporation Employees' Stock Ownership Trust (the
   "Trust") for the benefit of its employees.  During 1990 and 1991, the
   Trust borrowed $1,212,500 and $1,287,488, respectively, from two banks,
   and purchased 190,350 shares of the Company's common stock at fair
   market value.  The Company is acting as a guarantor on the outstanding
   loans and, as a result, has recorded the principal balance of such loans
   on its balance sheet as short-term debt with an offsetting charge to
   "ESOP Deferred Compensation" within the Stockholders' Equity section.


                                  Page 4


<PAGE>
                                        
   Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
   ________________________________________________________________


   On May 1, 1997, the Company provided a loan of $104,836 to the Trust in
   order to pay off the remaining balance of the 1990 bank loan.  This new
   loan, which bears interest at 9% per annum, requires equal monthly
   payments of principal of $9,000, commencing on June 15, 1997.

   The 1991 loan was renewed in August 1994 for a further three-year term,
   and now bears interest at a rate of 8.77%.  It requires a balloon
   payment of approximately $482,000 in August 1997.  The outstanding
   balance on this loan as of March 29, 1997 was $519,450.  The Company
   anticipates that it will refinance this loan to eliminate or postpone
   the remaining balloon payment beyond fiscal year 1997. 

   The Company intends to make contributions to the Trust sufficient to pay
   all principal and interest on the loans when due.  Because the payment
   of principal results in the release of shares from collateral, which
   shares are then available for allocation to employees, the principal
   portion of these contributions is recorded as compensation expense. 
   Such contributions are, therefore, expensed to compensation and interest
   when they are made or accrued.  

   On May 31, 1995, the Company completed an asset purchase of the secure
   communications business of Datotek, Inc.  This acquisition was funded
   partly by the Company's own capital and partly through loans amounting
   to $2,250,000 from two banks.  The remaining principal balance of
   $1,650,000 on these loans, which were payable in equal installments of
   principal over a period of five years, plus interest at The First
   National Bank of Boston's prime rate plus 1/2 of 1%, was paid in full
   during the quarter ended December 28, 1996.


   NOTE 3.      Earnings Per Share
   _______      __________________

   For the six months ended March 29, 1997 and March 30, 1996, net earnings
   per common share were based on the weighted average number of shares
   outstanding during the period.  The effect of the assumed conversion of
   dilutive employee stock options was not material.

   On March 3, 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 128, "Earnings Per Share." 
   This Statement supersedes APB Opinion No. 15 regarding the presentation
   of earnings per share ("EPS") on the face of the income statement.  SFAS
   No. 128 replaces the presentation of Primary EPS with a Basic EPS
   calculation that excludes the dilutive effect of common stock
   equivalents.  The Statement requires a dual presentation of Basic and
   Diluted EPS, which is computed similarly to Fully Diluted EPS pursuant
   to APB Opinion No. 15, for all entities with complex capital structures. 
   This Statement is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15,
   1997 and requires restatement of all prior-period EPS data presented. 
   The Company's earnings per share reported at March 29, 1997 would not be
   affected by this new statement, since the dilutive effect of options was
   not reported as noted above.


   NOTE 4.     Commitments and Contingencies
   _______     _____________________________
                                            
   The Company is not currently party to any lawsuit, and is not aware of
   any material pending legal proceedings.  See Part II, "Other Information,"
   Item 1, "Legal Proceedings."


                                     Page 5

<PAGE>

            PART I, Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                 Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   Results of Operations
   _____________________

   The Company is in the business of designing, manufacturing and marketing
   communications security equipment.  The Company receives orders for
   equipment from customers which may take several months or longer to
   manufacture and ship. Because the Company recognizes income on long-term
   contracts on a unit-of-delivery basis, revenues may vary widely from
   quarter to quarter.  Quarterly comparisons of revenue may therefore not
   be indicative of any trend.

   The Company's backlog of firm orders as of March 29, 1997 was
   $2,610,009, representing a 45% decrease from the Company's backlog of
   $4,756,845 as of September 28, 1996.  The Company expects to deliver
   most of its backlog in the current fiscal year.  

   Net sales for the quarter ended March 29, 1997 and March 30, 1996, were
   $4,054,348 and $3,695,727, respectively.  For the six months ended March
   29, 1997 and March 30, 1996, net sales were $7,112,462 and $5,836,567,
   respectively.  This increase of 10% in second quarter net sales and 22%
   in year-to-date net sales may be attributed to both an increasing
   customer base and variability in revenue recognition as a result of the
   timing of shipments associated with long-term contracts.

   Gross profit for the second quarter of fiscal year 1997 was $2,664,537,
   as compared to gross profit of $2,015,971 in the second quarter of
   fiscal year 1996.  For the first six months of 1997 gross profit totaled
   $4,517,899, as compared with $3,166,896 for the first six months of
   1996.  This represented a 32% increase in gross profit for the quarter
   and a 43% increase year-to-date.  Gross profit expressed as a percentage
   of sales was 66% in the second quarter and 64% in the first six months
   of fiscal year 1997, as compared to 55% in the second quarter and 54%
   for the first six months of fiscal year 1996.  Since a considerable
   portion of manufacturing cost is relatively fixed, increases in net
   sales usually result in increases in margin percentage.  In addition,
   sales in the second quarter of fiscal 1997 included a high proportion of
   higher-margin products.

   Operating expenses for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal
   1997 were $2,524,142 and $4,358,220, respectively.  For the second
   quarter and first six months of fiscal 1996 operating expenses were
   $1,604,874 and $3,131,300, respectively.  This increase of 57% in the
   quarter and 39% in the first six months was due primarily to increased
   spending in sales, marketing, and product development.

   Other income and expense for the second quarter and first six months of
   fiscal 1997 were $22,170 and $50,943, respectively.  For the second
   quarter and first six months of fiscal 1996 other income and expense
   were $7,657 and ($1,128), respectively.  This increase in the quarter
   and in the first six months was primarily due to the loan repayments
   (described in Note 2 on Page 5 of this Form 10-Q) as a result of the
   acquisition of the assets of Datotek, Inc. in May 1995.

   After-tax income for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal
   year 1997 was $121,924 or $.09 per share and $157,875 or $.12 per share,
   respectively.  The after-tax profits in the second quarter and first six
   months of fiscal year 1996 were $314,065 or $.25 per share and $25,851
   or $.02 per share, respectively.  Earnings for the second fiscal quarter
   were lower than for the previous equivalent period because of the
   increased operating costs previously mentioned.  Earnings for the six-
   month period were substantially improved over the same period last year
   due to increased revenue and the improved gross profit percentage
   previously discussed.


                                     Page 6

                                         
<PAGE>

   Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
   ________________________________________________


   Liquidity and Capital Resources
   _______________________________

   Cash and short-term investments decreased by $3,068,167 or 48% to
   $3,312,859 as of March 29, 1997, from a balance of $6,381,026 at
   September 28, 1996. This decrease was primarily due to the Company's
   early payoff of the Datotek acquisition loans (see Note 2 on Page 5 of
   this Form 10-Q) and a $1,432,474 net increase in trade receivables
   stemming from a $2,400,000 sale late in the second quarter.  The current
   ratio was 3.0:1 at March 29, 1997, compared to 2.9:1 as of September 28,
   1996.  Inventories were $3,099,305 as of March 29, 1997, representing a
   18% increase from the September 28, 1996 balance of $2,615,772 due to
   inventory buildup for future shipments.
      
   Information on the Company's long-term debt is to be found on Page 4,
   Note 2, "Long-Term Debt" of this Form 10-Q.

   Management currently anticipates no unusual capital expenditures and no
   increases in the Company's requirements for capital above its present
   resources for fiscal year 1997.


   Certain Factors Affecting Future Operating Results
   __________________________________________________

   This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
   Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E
   of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  The Company's
   actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the
   forward-looking statements.  Certain factors that might cause such a
   difference include, but are not limited to the following:  the time it
   takes and the costs incurred to develop, market, sell, manufacture and
   ship products, the Company's ability to refinance the 1991 ESOP loan,
   and those factors discussed in the section entitled "Certain Factors
   Affecting Future Operating Results" on page 6 of the Company's Form 10-K
   for the fiscal year ended September 28, 1996.


                                    Page 7

<PAGE>
                                          
   PART II. Other Information

   Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

            No material legal proceedings are pending to which the Company
            is a party or of which any of its property is the subject.


   Item 2.  Changes in Securities:

            Not applicable.


   Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities:

            Not applicable.


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

            The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company was held on
            February 10,  1997.  Set forth below is a description of each
            matter voted upon at the meeting as well as the number of votes
            cast for or against each such matter.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       
                                                                      Broker
    Description                For        Against     Abstentions    Non-Votes
    _____________________   _________    ________     ___________    _________
    <C>                     <C>          <C>          <C>            <C>

    To fix the number of
    directors at eight      1,009,586      42,480        2,700          ---
    ___________________________________________________________________________

    Election of Directors
    Arnold M. McCalmont       971,082      83,684          ---          ---
    Roland S. Gerard          935,578     119,188          ---          ---
    Lawrence A. Kletter       952,871     101,895          ---          ---
    Herbert A. Lerner         972,855      81,911          ---          ---
    Robert T. Lessard         974,355      80,411          ---          ---
    James A. McCalmont        949,556     105,210          ---          ---
    Philip A. Phalon          983,725      71,041          ---          ---
    Victor Sabella            984,612      70,154          ---          ---
    ___________________________________________________________________________

    To increase the number
    of shares reserved for
    issuance of stock options
    by 100,000 shares         849,203     197,463        8,100          ---
    ___________________________________________________________________________

    To ratify the selection
    of the firm of Arthur
    Andersen LLP as the
    Company's auditors      1,049,812       4,304          650          ---

</TABLE>


                                    Page 8


<PAGE>

   Item 5.  Other Information:

            None.


   Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K:

            a.      Exhibits - Statement regarding computation of per-share
                    earnings:  reference is made to Note 3 of the Notes to
                    Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements on Page 5 of 
                    this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

            b.      Reports on Form 8-K: None.


            

                                    Page 9




<PAGE>
                                  SIGNATURES


   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.


                                       TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
                                       ____________________________________
                                                  (Registrant)



   May 13, 1997                        By: /s/ Roland S. Gerard    
   ____________                            ________________________________
       Date                                ROLAND S. GERARD, PRESIDENT
                                           AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER


   May 13, 1997                        By: /s/ Graham R. Briggs 
   ____________                            ________________________________
       Date                                GRAHAM R. BRIGGS, VICE PRESIDENT
                                           AND CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER













                                  Page 10