ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORP
S-3/A, 1995-12-26
INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASUREMENT, DISPLAY, AND CONTROL
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<PAGE>
   
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 22, 1995
    

                                                       REGISTRATION NO. 33-62625
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                              -------------------

   
                          AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO FORM S-3
    
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                              -------------------

                       ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                                     <C>
                DELAWARE                               13-2595091
    (State or Other Jurisdiction of                 (I.R.S. Employer
     Incorporation or Organization)              Identification Number)
</TABLE>

                              10800 NE 8TH STREET
                           BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON 98004
                                 (206) 453-9400
         (Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including
            Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

                              ROBERT W. STEVENSON
 EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, SECRETARY AND TREASURER
                              10800 NE 8TH STREET
                           BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON 98004
                                 (206) 453-9400
 (Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code,
                             of Agent For Service)

                              -------------------

                                   COPIES TO:

<TABLE>
<S>                                          <C>
            GREGG A. NOEL, ESQ.                         ERIC H. SCHUNK, ESQ.
   SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM            MILBANK, TWEED, HADLEY & MCCLOY
    300 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE, SUITE 3400          601 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET, 30TH FLOOR
       LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90071                LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90017
              (213) 687-5000                               (213) 892-4000
</TABLE>

                              -------------------

        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
  As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

                              -------------------

    If  the  only securities  being registered  on this  Form are  being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment
plans, please check the following box. / /

    If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered  on
a  delayed or continuous basis pursuant to  Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. / /

    If this Form  is filed  to register  additional securities  for an  offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and  list  the  Securities  Act registration  statement  number  of  the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. / / ____________

    If this Form  is a post-effective  amendment filed pursuant  to Rule  426(c)
under  the Securities Act, check  the following box and  list the Securities Act
registration statement number  of the earlier  effective registration  statement
for the same offering. / / ____________

    If  delivery of the prospectus is expected  to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. / /

                              -------------------

    THE REGISTRANT HEREBY  AMENDS THIS  REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON  SUCH DATE  OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE  A  FURTHER  AMENDMENT  WHICH SPECIFICALLY  STATES  THAT  THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE  IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A)  OF
THE  SECURITIES ACT  OF 1933  OR UNTIL  THE REGISTRATION  STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION  8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                EXPLANATORY NOTE

    This  Registration  Statement covers  the registration  of shares  of Common
Stock to be offered in  the United States and  Canada (the "U.S. Offering")  and
shares of Common Stock to be offered in a concurrent offering outside the United
States   and  Canada  (the  "International  Offering").  The  complete  form  of
prospectus relating  to  the  U.S.  Offering  (the  "U.S.  Prospectus")  follows
immediately  after this explanatory note. The form of prospectus relating to the
International Offering (the "International Prospectus") will be identical in all
respects to the U.S. Prospectus,  except that the International Prospectus  will
contain  different front and back cover  pages and Underwriting section and will
contain an  additional  section  entitled "Certain  United  States  Federal  Tax
Consequences  for Non-United  States Holders." The  form of  the U.S. Prospectus
included herein  is followed  by those  pages to  be used  in the  International
Prospectus  which differ from those  in the U.S. Prospectus.  Each of such pages
included herein is labeled "Alternative Page for International Prospectus."
<PAGE>
Information   contained  herein  is  subject   to  completion  or  amendment.  A
registration statement  relating to  these securities  has been  filed with  the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission. These securities  may not be  sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior  to the time the registration statement  becomes
effective.  This  prospectus  shall  not  constitute an  offer  to  sell  or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these  securities
in  any State in which such offer,  solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State.
<PAGE>
   
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
                 PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED DECEMBER 22, 1995
    

                                1,800,000 SHARES

                                     [LOGO]

                       ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
                                  COMMON STOCK
                                ----------------

    All of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby are being sold by Esterline
Technologies  Corporation,  a  Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company").  Of  the
1,800,000  shares of  Common Stock offered,  1,440,000 shares  are being offered
hereby in the United  States and Canada (the  "U.S. Shares") and 360,000  shares
are  being offered  in a  concurrent international  offering outside  the United
States and Canada. The price to the public and aggregate underwriting  discounts
and   commissions  per  share   will  be  identical   for  both  offerings.  See
"Underwriting."

   
    The Company's Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE")
under the trading  symbol "ESL." On  December 21, 1995,  the last reported  sale
price of the Common Stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange was $22.375
per share. See "Price Range of Common Stock."
    
                              -------------------

    PROSPECTIVE  INVESTORS SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE MATTERS DISCUSSED UNDER
"RISK FACTORS" ON PAGE 6 IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
                               -----------------

THESE   SECURITIES   HAVE   NOT   BEEN   APPROVED   OR   DISAPPROVED   BY    THE
   SECURITIES    AND   EXCHANGE   COMMISSION    OR   ANY   STATE   SECURITIES
     COMMISSION  NOR  HAS  THE   SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION   OR
        ANY   STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  PASSED  UPON  THE  ACCURACY
            OR ADEQUACY OF  THIS PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION  TO
                          THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         UNDERWRITING
                                        PRICE TO         DISCOUNTS AND       PROCEEDS TO
                                         PUBLIC         COMMISSIONS (1)      COMPANY (2)
<S>                                 <C>                <C>                <C>
Per Share.........................  $                  $                  $
Total.............................          $                  $                  $
Total Assuming Full Exercise of
 Over-Allotment Option (3)........          $                  $                  $
<FN>
(1)  See "Underwriting."
(2)  Before  deducting expenses estimated at $415,000,  which are payable by the
     Company.
(3)  Assuming exercise in full  of the 30-day option  granted by the Company  to
     the  Underwriters to purchase up to  270,000 additional shares, on the same
     terms, solely to cover over-allotments. See "Underwriting."
</TABLE>

                              -------------------

   
    The U.S. Shares are offered by the U.S. Underwriters, subject to prior sale,
when, as and if delivered to and accepted by the U.S. Underwriters, and  subject
to  their  right to  reject orders  in whole  or  in part.  It is  expected that
delivery of the Common Stock will be made in New York  City on or about
  , 1996.
    
                              -------------------

PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
                          RAGEN MACKENZIE INCORPORATED
                                                   PACIFIC CREST SECURITIES INC.
                                  ------------

   
               THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS             , 1996
    
<PAGE>
   
                          ALL PHOTOS ARE BLACK & WHITE
    

   
PHOTOS NUMBERS 1 AND 2 ARE ON THE INSIDE FRONT COVER OF THE PROSPECTUS. PHOTOS
NUMBERS 3 THROUGH 6 ARE ON THE INSIDE BACK COVER OF THE PROSPECTUS.
    

   
Photo #1  shows  a technician holding a drilled circuit board. In the background
          is an EXCELLON drilling machine.

          CAPTION
          EXCELLON AUTOMATION  is a  leading  manufacturer of  highly  efficient
          automated drilling systems for the printed circuit board manufacturing
          industry.  The proliferation of increasingly complex circuit boards is
          fueling Excellon's growth by helping to render older drilling machines
          obsolete.

Photo #2  shows  a  WHITNEY  punching  machine  with  a  touch-screen   computer
          controller.

          CAPTION
          WHITNEY  designs and  builds highly productive  automated machine tool
          and material handling systems for  cutting and punching sheet,  plate,
          and  structural steel.  The punching  machine pictured  incorporates a
          touch-screen computer controller co-developed by Whitney and  Excellon
          to provide full process traceability.

Photo #3  shows   (clockwise   from   left)  an   AUXITROL   optical  pyrometer,
          thermocouple harness, and high temperature sensor.

          CAPTION
          AUXITROL,  headquartered   in  France,   manufactures   high-precision
          temperature  and  pressure sensing  devices including  (clockwise from
          left) optical pyrometers, thermocouple harnesses, and high-temperature
          sensors for aerospace applications. Auxitrol also manufactures a  wide
          range  of  other  measuring devices  for  shipbuilding,  petroleum and
          process industries.

Photo #4  shows an array of ARMTEC combustible ordnance products.

          CAPTION
          KORRY'S electro-optical components and  systems provide its  customers
          with  a  significant technological  advantage in  such areas  as night
          vision -- a top defense department priority.

Photo #5  shows a KORRY lighted switch panel with the facia removed.

          CAPTION
          ARMTEC  currently  is  the  principal  U.S.  producer  of  combustible
          ordnance  products  utilized by  the U.S.  Army. Products  include the
          120mm cartridge case  used on the  main armament system  on the  M-1A2
          tank, and 60mm, 80mm and 120mm mortar increments.

Photo #6  shows  the gauge  head of  a FEDERAL  PRODUCTS dimensional measurement
          system.

          CAPTION
          FEDERAL PRODUCTS designs and produces  a broad line of  high-precision
          dimensional  and  surface measurement  and inspection  instruments and
          systems  for  dimensional  and  other  quality  control  applications.
          Manufacturers  use this equipment for  direct shop-floor inspection to
          reduce costly rework at more advanced production stages.

    

    IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR  EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK OF
THE  COMPANY AT  A LEVEL ABOVE  THAT WHICH  MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL  IN THE OPEN
MARKET. SUCH TRANSACTIONS  MAY BE  EFFECTED ON THE  NEW YORK  STOCK EXCHANGE  OR
OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.

                                       2
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

    THE  FOLLOWING SUMMARY  IS QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY  THE MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION AND  THE FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS (INCLUDING  NOTES THERETO)  APPEARING
ELSEWHERE  IN THIS  PROSPECTUS OR INCORPORATED  HEREIN BY  REFERENCE. UNLESS THE
CONTEXT INDICATES OTHERWISE, REFERENCES IN  THIS PROSPECTUS TO THE "COMPANY"  OR
TO  "ESTERLINE" ARE TO ESTERLINE  TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES.
UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS ASSUMES THAT  THE
UNDERWRITERS OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION WILL NOT BE EXERCISED.

                                  THE COMPANY

   
    Esterline  is  a diversified  manufacturing company  that has  strong market
positions within  a  variety  of  general  manufacturing  industries,  including
electronic  equipment, metal fabrication, commercial  aerospace and defense. The
Company conducts its operations through three business segments: its  Automation
Group, Aerospace and Defense Group, and Instrumentation Group. The six principal
subsidiaries of Esterline set forth below generated approximately 78% and 82% of
net sales and 89% and 83% of operating earnings (excluding restructuring charges
and corporate expenses) in fiscal 1994 and 1995, respectively.
    

AUTOMATION GROUP

   
    EXCELLON  AUTOMATION CO.  ("Excellon") is  a leading  manufacturer of highly
efficient automated drilling systems for the printed circuit board manufacturing
industry. Excellon has experienced significant  growth over the past two  years,
fueled   by  the  growing   capacity  requirements  of   printed  circuit  board
manufacturers and the proliferation of increasingly more complex boards which is
helping to  render  older  printed circuit  board  drilling  machines  obsolete.
Management  believes that Excellon's newest  automated equipment, which includes
fully integrated material handling equipment, is the technological leader  based
upon  its productivity and accuracy, and enables its customers to achieve one of
the lowest costs per hole.
    

    W.A. WHITNEY CO. ("Whitney") designs and builds highly productive  automated
machine  tool  and material  handling systems  for  cutting and  punching sheet,
plate, and structural steel  for construction, transportation, agricultural  and
mining  equipment  manufacturers  and  independent  steel  fabrication  centers.
Whitney produces equipment specifically designed  for mid- to heavy plate  metal
that  enables manufacturers to meet rigid cut quality and accuracy standards. In
its niche, Whitney is a  leading supplier in the  United States, and has  market
positions in both Europe and Asia.

AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE GROUP

    ARMTEC  DEFENSE PRODUCTS CO. ("Armtec")  manufactures molded fiber cartridge
cases,  mortar  increments,  igniter  tubes  and  other  combustible  ammunition
components  for the United  States Armed Forces and  licenses such technology to
foreign defense contractors and governments. In conjunction with the U.S. Army's
development  of  an  improved  solid  propellent  propulsion  system  for  155mm
artillery,  Armtec is  developing what management  expects will  become the next
generation of specialized modular cartridge cases.

   
    AUXITROL S.A.  ("Auxitrol"),  headquartered  in  France,  manufactures  high
precision  temperature  and pressure  sensing devices  used primarily  on rocket
motors and jet engines, and liquid level and various other measuring devices for
the ship building, petroleum and process industries. Auxitrol also  manufactures
electrical  penetration devices under license for use in nuclear power plants in
certain European countries and other foreign countries.
    

INSTRUMENTATION GROUP

    FEDERAL PRODUCTS CO. ("Federal") designs and produces high-precision  analog
and  digital measurement and inspection  instruments and systems for dimensional
and other  quality control  applications in  the production  of finely  machined
parts  for  the  automotive,  aerospace  and  general  manufacturing industries.
Manufacturers use Federal equipment for direct shop-floor inspections to  reduce
costly rework at more advanced production stages.

    KORRY  ELECTRONICS CO.  ("Korry") is a  market and technology  leader in the
manufacture  of   high-reliability  electro-optical   components  and   systems,
illuminated   push   button   switches,   indicators,   panels,   and  keyboards

                                       3
<PAGE>
   
primarily  for  commercial  and  military  aircraft  manufacturers,   electronic
instrument  producers,  and  defense  contractors.  Korry's  products  have been
designed into many existing  aircraft systems, and as  a result, Korry enjoys  a
considerable spares and retrofit business.
    

   
    Esterline's  senior  management group  joined the  Company  in 1987.  In its
efforts  to   improve  stockholder   returns,  management   has  downsized   and
restructured the Company and navigated it through extended downturns in both the
electronics  capital goods and  commercial aerospace and  defense markets. Since
October 31, 1989, senior  management has reduced the  Company's total debt  from
$172.1  million  to  $50.3 million  at  October  31, 1995.  Today,  Esterline is
enjoying the benefits  of its increased  operating leverage as  a result of  its
restructuring efforts and improving capital goods markets.
    

    The Company's operating strategy consists of the following key elements:

    FOCUS  ON  MANUFACTURING  HIGHLY  ENGINEERED PRODUCTS  IN  NICHE  MARKETS --
Management believes that engineered products with technological advantages  help
maintain  strong  market  shares which  provide  the opportunity  to  earn above
average profit  margins.  Even during  market  downturns, the  Company  provides
financial  resources to its operating units  for the research and development of
new or enhanced products in an effort to maintain technological advantages.

    IMPLEMENT  PROFESSIONAL  MANAGEMENT   PRACTICES  --  Esterline's   corporate
management  supports stand-alone  operating management  teams at  each Esterline
subsidiary. The  Company believes  that its  long-term management  approach  and
continuous  focus on  incremental improvement  often enable  it to  increase the
value  of   small-  to   medium-sized  manufacturing   businesses  by   bringing
professional management practices to traditional entrepreneurial operations.

    INCENTIVIZE  MANAGEMENT TO OBTAIN  ABOVE AVERAGE RETURN  FOR STOCKHOLDERS --
The Company's goal is  to provide stockholders with  an above average return  on
equity.  The compensation system  for senior management  is consistent with this
goal, rewarding  performance  not only  with  respect to  the  Company's  annual
results  but also  long-term Company  performance relative  to specific industry
indices.

    PURSUE SELECTIVE ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES -- Strategic acquisitions are  an
important   element  in  achieving  the   Company's  long-term  earnings  growth
objectives. The Company will  continue to target  acquisition candidates in  the
areas  it  knows  well--technically  based  manufacturing  companies  delivering
products to  industrial customers--where  its  management team's  knowledge  and
experience  can add value. With the proceeds  from this offering and the reduced
financial leverage,  the  Company should  be  well-positioned from  a  financial
standpoint to successfully complete acquisitions.

    Esterline,  organized in  August 1967,  is a  Delaware corporation  with its
principal executive  offices  at  10800  NE  8th  Street,  Bellevue,  Washington
(telephone number (206) 453-9400).

                                  THE OFFERING

   
<TABLE>
<S>                                           <C>
Common Stock Offered by the Company.........  1,800,000 shares (1)
Common Stock to be Outstanding after the
 Offering...................................  8,458,560 shares (1)
Use of Proceeds.............................  General corporate purposes, including
                                              acquisitions.
New York Stock Exchange Symbol..............  ESL
<FN>
- ------------------------
(1)  Does not include 947,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under
     the  Company's  1987  Stock Option  Plan,  of which  789,625  are currently
     outstanding and of which 539,750 are currently exercisable.
</TABLE>
    

                                       4
<PAGE>
                      SUMMARY FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA

   
    The following table  sets forth summary  historical financial and  operating
data  of the Company  and its subsidiaries. For  additional information, see the
consolidated financial  statements  of  the Company  and  its  subsidiaries  and
"Selected  Historical Financial and  Operating Data" included  elsewhere in this
Prospectus. The  summary  historical  financial  data should  also  be  read  in
conjunction  with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations
and Financial Condition."
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                  1991        1992          1993          1994         1995
                                ---------   ---------   ------------   ----------   -----------
                                  (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND EMPLOYEE DATA)

<S>                             <C>         <C>         <C>            <C>          <C>
OPERATING RESULTS
Net sales.....................  $350,934    $304,827    $ 285,152      $294,044     $351,897
Cost of sales.................   214,415     187,235      175,568       178,397      210,834
Selling, general and
 administrative expense.......   111,858     102,202      100,669       100,845      112,213
Restructuring charge
 (credit).....................     --          --          40,626(1)      --          (2,067)(2)
Interest expense, net.........    12,709       7,246        6,324         5,985        4,442(3)
Earnings (loss) before income
 taxes........................    11,952       8,144      (38,035)        8,817       26,475
Income tax expense
 (benefit)....................     4,637       3,050      (12,400)        1,254(4)     9,094
Net earnings (loss)...........  $  7,315    $  5,094    $ (25,635)(1)  $  7,563(4)  $ 17,381(2)
Net earnings (loss) per
 share........................  $   1.12    $   0.76    $   (3.90)(1)  $   1.15(4)  $   2.53(2)
Weighted average number of
 shares outstanding...........     6,543       6,667        6,579         6,571        6,870

BALANCE SHEET DATA
 (at period end)
Working capital...............  $ 20,377    $ 21,721    $   9,064      $ 10,542     $ 37,787
Total assets..................   256,384     232,024      205,672       215,975      223,668
Total debt....................   109,302      81,784       74,486        62,360       50,294
Shareholders' equity..........    77,377      82,622       55,323        65,491       83,706

OTHER DATA
Gross margin percentage.......      38.9%       38.6%        38.4%         39.3%        40.1%
Research, development and
 related engineering costs as
 a percentage of sales (5)....       4.7%        4.4%         4.9%          4.7%         4.7%
Total number of employees (at
 period end)..................     3,499       3,109        2,809         2,804        2,849
<FN>
- ------------------------------
(1)  In the fourth quarter of fiscal 1993, the Company recorded a $40.6  million
     restructuring  charge ($27.2 million, or $4.14 per share, net of income tax
     effect). Without this restructuring charge, net earnings in 1993 would have
     been $1.6 million, or $.24 per share.
(2)  Net earnings  in  1995  reflect  nonrecurring  items  including  a  pre-tax
     restructuring  credit of  $2.1 million, or  $.20 per share  on an after-tax
     basis, and a pre-tax patent infringement settlement credit of $1.3 million,
     or $.12 per share on an after-tax basis, both of which were recorded in the
     third quarter of fiscal 1995. Without  these credits, net earnings in  1995
     would have been $15.2 million, or $2.21 per share.
(3)  Interest expense in 1995 is net of $1.2 million of interest income.
(4)  Net earnings in 1994 reflect a $2.0 million, or $.30 per share, tax benefit
     recorded  in the fourth quarter of fiscal  1994 as a result of a settlement
     with the Internal  Revenue Service. Net  earnings in 1994  would have  been
     $5.6 million, or $.85 per share, without this credit.
(5)  Research,  development  and  related  engineering  costs  are  included  in
     selling, general and administrative expense.
</TABLE>
    

                                       5
<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS

    PROSPECTIVE  PURCHASERS OF  THE COMMON  STOCK SHOULD  CONSIDER CAREFULLY THE
SPECIFIC RISK FACTORS SET FORTH BELOW AS WELL AS THE OTHER INFORMATION CONTAINED
IN THIS PROSPECTUS.

    CYCLICALITY OF BUSINESS.  The Company's business is susceptible to  economic
cycles  and its results can vary widely  based on a number of factors, including
domestic and foreign economic conditions and developments affecting the specific
industries and customers served. The  products sold by the Company's  businesses
represent  capital investment  or support for  capital investment  by either the
initial customer or the  ultimate end user. Also,  a significant portion of  the
sales  and profitability of some Company  businesses is derived from defense and
other government  contracts  or the  commercial  aircraft industry.  Changes  in
general  economic  conditions  or  conditions  in  specific  industries, capital
acquisition cycles, and government  policies, collectively or individually,  can
have  a significant effect on the  Company's results of operations and financial
condition. For  example,  recently, strong  demand  for the  Automation  Group's
manufacturing  equipment  products,  particularly  at  Excellon,  was  primarily
responsible for the Company's  sales increases. There can  be no assurance  that
such demand for Excellon's products will continue at their current levels.

    COMPETITION.   The Company competes in  most markets it serves with numerous
other companies,  some of  which have  far greater  sales volume  and  financial
resources  than the Company. The principal competitive factors in the commercial
markets in which the Company  participates are product performance and  service.
Part  of product performance  requires significant expenditures  in research and
development that  lead  to product  improvement.  The  market for  many  of  the
Company's  products  may  be affected  by  rapid technological  changes  and new
product introduction. Current  competitors or new  entrants could introduce  new
products  with  features that  render the  Company's  products obsolete  or less
marketable. Excellon's  principal competitors  are Hitachi,  Ltd. and  Pluritec.
Whitney's  principal competitors are Mazak, Cincinnati Milacron, U.S. Amada, and
Trumpf. Auxitrol's  principal competitors  are Ametek  and Rosemount.  Federal's
principal  competitors are Starrett and  Mitutoyo. Korry's principal competitors
are Eaton-MSC and Ducommun Jay-El. See "Business -- Competition."

   
    DEPENDENCE  ON  MAJOR  CUSTOMERS;  BACKLOG.     Certain  of  the   Company's
subsidiaries are dependent on a relatively small number of customers and defense
programs which change from time to time. For example, Armtec is dependent on the
U.S.  Army. Significant customers  in fiscal 1995 included  AT&T, the U.S. Army,
Snecma, Boeing  and  General  Dynamics.  There can  be  no  assurance  that  the
Company's current customers will continue to buy the Company's products at their
current  levels. Moreover, orders  included in backlog  are generally subject to
cancellation by the Company's customers. The  inability to replace sales due  to
the  loss of any major customer or defense program could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's results of operations and financial condition.
    

    EFFECT OF GOVERNMENT CONTRACT  PROVISIONS AND AUDITS.   As a contractor  and
subcontractor to the United States Government, the Company is subject to various
laws  and  regulations  that  are  more  restrictive  than  those  applicable to
non-government contractors. Although  only 4%  of the Company's  sales are  made
directly   to  the  United  States   Government,  the  Company's  subcontracting
activities account for an additional 15% of sales. Therefore, approximately  19%
of  the  Company's  sales  are  governed  by  rules  favoring  the  government's
contractual position. As a consequence, such contracts may be subject to protest
or  challenge  by  unsuccessful  bidders   or  to  termination,  reduction,   or
modification  in the event of changes  in government requirements, reductions in
federal spending, or other factors. The accuracy and appropriateness of  certain
costs and expenses used to substantiate direct and indirect costs of the Company
for  the United States Government under both cost-plus and fixed-price contracts
are subject to  extensive regulation  and audit  by the  Defense Contract  Audit
Agency ("DCAA"), an arm of the United States Department of Defense.

   
    In  October 1995, the Company identified irregularities in the allocation of
certain labor charges at Armtec, and promptly disclosed these irregularities  to
the  Department of Defense.  Armtec applied for admittance  to the Department of
Defense Voluntary Disclosure Program but has not yet been advised regarding  its
admittance  to the Program.  The outside attorneys  and governmental contracting
consultant that  were retained  by the  Company  to assist  in this  matter  are
continuing  their internal  investigation. At  this stage  of the investigation,
management believes that  the eventual  outcome of this  issue will  not have  a
    

                                       6
<PAGE>
   
material adverse effect on the financial position or future operating results of
the  Company. However, no assurance can be given that Armtec will be admitted to
the Program, or  that Armtec  will not be  subject to  fines, penalties,  and/or
administrative  sanctions  (which could  include  suspension and  debarment from
government contracting),  if not  admitted to  the Program  which could  have  a
material  adverse effect on the Company's financial position or future operating
results.
    

    DEPENDENCE ON  PROPRIETARY  TECHNOLOGY.   The  Company's  subsidiaries  take
precautionary  steps to protect their technological  advantages and rely in part
on  patent,  trademark,  trade  secret,  and  copyright  law  to  protect  their
intellectual  property. There can be no  assurances that the precautionary steps
taken by the Company will prevent misappropriation of its technology. Litigation
may be  necessary in  the future  to  enforce the  Company's patents  and  other
intellectual  property  rights,  to  protect  the  Company's  trade  secrets, to
determine the validity and scope of  proprietary rights of others, or to  defend
against  claims of infringement  or invalidity by  others. Such litigation could
result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's operating results and financial condition.

   
    RISK OF FOREIGN OPERATIONS.  Foreign sales represented approximately 35%  of
the  Company's total sales in fiscal 1995. Foreign sales are subject to numerous
risks,  including  political  and  economic  instability  in  foreign   markets,
restrictive  trade policies of foreign governments, economic conditions in local
markets, inconsistent product regulation by foreign agencies or governments, the
imposition of product tariffs and the  burdens of complying with a wide  variety
of  international and U.S. export laws and differing regulatory requirements. To
the extent that foreign sales are transacted in a foreign currency, the  Company
would  be subject to the risk of losses due to foreign currency fluctuations. In
addition, the Company has substantial  assets denominated in foreign  currencies
which  are not  offset by  liabilities denominated  in such  foreign currencies.
These net foreign currency  investments are subject to  material changes in  the
event of fluctuations in foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar.
    

    PRODUCT  LIABILITY.  The  Company is subject  to the risk  of claims arising
from injuries to persons or  property due to the  use of its products.  Although
the  Company maintains general liability  and product liability insurance, there
can be no assurance that such insurance  will be sufficient to cover any  claims
that may arise.

    ENVIRONMENTAL  MATTERS.  The Company is subject to federal, state, local and
foreign  laws,  regulations  and  ordinances  that  (i)  govern  activities   or
operations  that may have  adverse environmental effects,  such as discharges to
air and  water,  as  well as  handling  and  disposal practices  for  solid  and
hazardous  wastes, and (ii) impose  liability for the costs  of cleaning up, and
certain damages  resulting  from,  sites  of past  spills,  disposals  or  other
releases  of hazardous substances (together, "Environmental Laws"). From time to
time, the Company's operations have resulted or may result in noncompliance with
or liability  for  cleanup pursuant  to  Environmental Laws.  In  addition,  the
Company  has been identified as a  potentially responsible party pursuant to the
federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of
1980, as amended, or under analogous  state Environmental Laws, for the  cleanup
of  contamination resulting from  past disposals of  hazardous wastes at certain
sites to which the Company, among others,  sent wastes in the past. The  Company
believes  that any such  noncompliance or liability  under current Environmental
Laws would not have  a material adverse  effect on its  results of operation  or
financial  condition. Nonetheless, there can be  no assurance that such matters,
or any similar liabilities that  arise in the future,  will not have a  material
adverse  effect on the  Company's results of  operations or financial condition.
See "Business -- Environmental Matters."

    VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE.  The trading price of the Company's Common  Stock
has  from time  to time fluctuated  widely and in  the future may  be subject to
similar  fluctuations  in  response  to  quarter-to-quarter  variations  in  the
Company's  operating results, announcements of  technological innovations or new
products by  the Company  or  its competitors,  announcements of  marketing  and
distribution  arrangements by the Company,  general conditions in the industries
in which  the Company  competes and  other events  or factors.  In addition,  in
recent  years  broad stock  market indices,  in general,  and the  securities of
technology

                                       7
<PAGE>
companies, in particular, have experienced substantial price fluctuations.  Such
broad  market fluctuations also may adversely affect the future trading price of
the Common Stock. See "Price Range of Common Stock."

    RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ACQUISITIONS.  A key operating strategy of the Company
is the  pursuit of  selective acquisitions.  Although the  Company reviews  many
possible  acquisitions,  including  some  outside  of  its  current  markets and
acquisition criteria, the  Company currently has  no commitments, agreements  or
understandings  to  acquire any  specific businesses  or other  material assets.
There can  be no  assurance that  any  acquisition will  be consummated,  or  if
consummated,  that any such acquisition will  be successfully integrated or will
not have a  material adverse effect  upon the Company's  financial condition  or
results  of  operations.  The  Company is  seeking  stand-alone  operations with
revenues in the $40 to $100 million range, or smaller companies or product lines
that complement the Company's current  market or product forces; however,  there
can  be no assurance that the Company  will not consumate an acquisition outside
this revenue range.

    CERTAIN ANTI-TAKEOVER  PROVISIONS.   The Company's  Restated Certificate  of
Incorporation,  as  amended, (the  "Certificate  of Incorporation"),  and Bylaws
contain provisions  for a  classified  Board of  Directors and  restricting  the
ability  of stockholders to call special  meetings. These provisions could delay
or impede the  removal of incumbent  directors and could  make more difficult  a
merger, tender offer or proxy contest involving the Company, even if such events
might   be  favorable  to  the  Company's  stockholders.  In  addition,  certain
agreements to  which the  Company  is a  party,  including loan  and  employment
agreements,  contain  provisions  that  impose  substantial  penalties  upon the
Company in the event of a change of control.

    The Company's  stockholder  Rights Plan  is  designed to  cause  substantial
dilution  to any "Acquiring Person" that  attempts to merge or consolidate with,
or that takes certain other actions affecting, the Company on terms that are not
approved by the Board of Directors of  the Company. The Company is also  subject
to  the "business combination" statute of  the Delaware General Corporation Law.
In general,  the statute  prohibits a  publicly held  Delaware corporation  from
engaging  various  "business  combination"  transactions  with  any  "interested
stockholder" for a period of  three years after the  date of the transaction  in
which  such  person  became  an "interested  stockholder,"  unless  the business
combination  is  approved  in  a  prescribed  manner.  These  provisions   could
discourage  or  make more  difficult  a merger,  tender  offer or  other similar
transaction, even if favorable to  the Company's stockholders. See  "Description
of  Capital Stock -- Rights Plan; -- Section 203 of Delaware General Corporation
Law."

    Under the  Company's  Certificate  of Incorporation,  the  Company  has  the
ability  to  issue approximately  21.5 million  shares  of Common  Stock, 25,000
shares of Preferred  Stock and  475,000 shares  of Serial  Preferred Stock.  The
Preferred  and Serial Preferred Stock may be issued  from time to time in one or
more series  with such  designations,  preferences and  relative  participating,
optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereon,  as determined  by the Board  of Directors.  One of the  effects of the
existence of unissued and unreserved capital stock may be to enable the Board of
Directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management which  could
render  more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company
by means of  a merger,  tender offer, proxy  contest or  otherwise, and  thereby
protect  the continuity of management. Such additional shares also could be used
to dilute  the stock  ownership of  persons  seeking to  obtain control  of  the
Company.  See  "Description  of  Capital Stock  --  Preferred  Stock  and Serial
Preferred Stock; -- Certain Effects of Authorized But Unissued Stock."

                                       8
<PAGE>
                                USE OF PROCEEDS

   
    The Company expects  to use the  net proceeds  from the sale  of the  Common
Stock   estimated   to  be   approximately   $37,846,250  ($43,585,438   if  the
Underwriters' over-allotment option  is exercised  in full),  assuming a  public
offering price of $22.375 and after deducting the Underwriters' discounts, fees,
expenses  and commissions,  for general  corporate purposes,  including, without
limitation, the  possible acquisition  of other  companies and  working  capital
needs.  The Company routinely reviews  acquisition opportunities. The Company is
seeking stand-alone operations with revenues in the $40 million to $100  million
range,  or  smaller companies  or product  lines  that complement  the Company's
current market or product focus.  The Company's acquisition focus will  continue
to  be  in areas  it knows  well --  where the  management team's  knowledge and
experience can add value. With the  proceeds from this offering and the  reduced
financial  leverage,  the Company  should be  well  positioned from  a financial
standpoint to  successfully  complete  acquisitions. The  Company  is  currently
reviewing  a  number of  potential acquisitions,  however,  it currently  has no
commitments, agreements or  understandings to acquire  any specific business  or
other material assets.
    

                PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDEND POLICY

   
    The  following  table sets  forth  the high  and  low sales  prices  for the
Company's Common Stock  for the periods  indicated as reported  by the New  York
Stock  Exchange. As of December  21, 1995, the Company  believes that there were
approximately 1,100 holders of record of Common Stock.
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL QUARTER ENDED                                                           HIGH        LOW
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                          <C>        <C>
1994
January 31, 1994...........................................................       8.13       7.25
April 30, 1994.............................................................       9.00       7.13
July 31, 1994..............................................................      10.00       6.38
October 31, 1994...........................................................      12.38       9.50
1995
January 31, 1995...........................................................      14.75      11.13
April 30, 1995.............................................................      17.63      12.50
July 31, 1995..............................................................      24.75      16.63
October 31, 1995...........................................................      30.38      21.25
1996
November 1 through December 21, 1995.......................................      24.00      19.13
</TABLE>
    

   
    No cash dividends were paid during the fiscal years ended October 31,  1993,
1994  and 1995 as the  Company continued its policy  of retaining all internally
generated funds to  support the long-term  growth of the  Company and to  retire
debt  obligations. In  addition, the  Company's debt  agreements contain various
restrictions on the payment of dividends.
    

   
    The last reported sale price of  the Company's Common Stock on December  21,
1995 was $22.375 per share.
    

                                       9
<PAGE>
                                 CAPITALIZATION

   
    The  following  table sets  forth the  total  capitalization, cash  and cash
equivalents and  short-term debt  of the  Company  as of  October 31,  1995,  as
adjusted  to  reflect the  sale of  the shares  of Common  Stock offered  by the
Company hereby at an assumed public  offering price of $22.375 (after  deducting
estimated  underwriting discount and commissions  and offering expenses) and the
receipt of the net proceeds therefrom.  See "Use of Proceeds" and  "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition."
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          OCTOBER 31, 1995
                                                                        ---------------------
                                                                         ACTUAL   AS ADJUSTED
                                                                        --------  -----------
<S>                                                                     <C>       <C>
Cash and cash equivalents.............................................  $ 22,097   $ 59,943
                                                                        --------  -----------
                                                                        --------  -----------

Credit facilities and current maturities of long-term debt............  $ 14,751   $ 14,751
                                                                        --------  -----------
                                                                        --------  -----------

Long-term debt, net of current maturities.............................  $ 35,543   $ 35,543
                                                                        --------  -----------
Shareholders' equity
  Common stock, par value $.20 per share, 30,000,000 shares
   authorized, 6,645,780 shares issued and outstanding and 8,445,780
   shares, as adjusted (1)............................................     1,328      1,688
  Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share, 25,000 shares authorized,
   no shares issued and outstanding...................................     --        --
  Serial Preferred Stock, par value $1 per share, 475,000 shares
   authorized, no shares issued and outstanding.......................     --        --
  Capital in excess of par value......................................    10,390     47,876
  Retained earnings...................................................    72,332     72,332
  Cumulative translation adjustment...................................      (344)      (344)
                                                                        --------  -----------
    Total shareholders' equity........................................    83,706    121,552
                                                                        --------  -----------
      Total capitalization............................................  $119,249   $157,095
                                                                        --------  -----------
                                                                        --------  -----------
<FN>
- ------------------------
(1)  Does  not include currently outstanding  options to purchase 754,625 shares
     of the Company's Common Stock as of October 31, 1995, 470,375 of which were
     then exercisable.
</TABLE>
    

                                       10
<PAGE>
                SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA

   
    The following table sets forth  selected historical financial and  operating
data  of the  Company and  its subsidiaries.  The selected  historical financial
operating and balance sheet data as of and for each of the five fiscal years  in
the  period ended  October 31, 1995  were derived from  the audited consolidated
financial statements  of  the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries.  For  additional
information,  see the consolidated  financial statements of  the Company and its
subsidiaries included  elsewhere in  this  Prospectus. The  selected  historical
financial  data should also be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition."
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                                                        -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          1991       1992         1993         1994          1995
                                                        ---------  ---------  ------------  -----------  ------------
                                                         (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND EMPLOYEE DATA)
<S>                                                     <C>        <C>        <C>           <C>          <C>
OPERATING RESULTS
Net sales.............................................  $ 350,934  $ 304,827  $ 285,152     $ 294,044    $ 351,897
Cost of sales.........................................    214,415    187,235    175,568       178,397      210,834
Selling, general and administrative expense...........    111,858    102,202    100,669       100,845      112,213
Restructuring charge (credit).........................     --         --         40,626(1)      --          (2,067)(2)
Interest expense, net.................................     12,709      7,246      6,324         5,985        4,442(3)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes...................     11,952      8,144    (38,035)        8,817       26,475
Income tax expense (benefit)..........................      4,637      3,050    (12,400)        1,254(4)     9,094
Net earnings (loss)...................................  $   7,315  $   5,094  $ (25,635)(1) $   7,563(4) $  17,381(2)
Net earnings (loss) per share.........................  $    1.12  $    0.76  $   (3.90)(1) $    1.15(4) $    2.53(2)
Weighted average numbers of shares outstanding........      6,543      6,667      6,579         6,571        6,870

BUSINESS SEGMENT DATA
Net sales
  Automation..........................................  $ 125,263  $  91,449  $  94,460     $ 108,642    $ 156,116
  Aerospace and Defense...............................    113,335    111,077     99,071        93,370       98,027
  Instrumentation.....................................    112,336    102,301     91,621        92,032       97,754

BALANCE SHEET DATA (AT PERIOD END)
Working capital.......................................  $  20,377  $  21,721  $   9,064     $  10,542    $  37,787
Total assets..........................................    256,384    232,024    205,672       215,975      223,668
Total debt............................................    109,302     81,784     74,486        62,360       50,294
Shareholders' equity..................................     77,377     82,622     55,323        65,491       83,706

OTHER DATA
Gross margin percentage...............................       38.9%      38.6%      38.4%         39.3%        40.1%
Research, development and related engineering costs as
 a percentage of sales (5)............................        4.7%       4.4%       4.9%          4.7%         4.7%
Total number of employees (at period end).............      3,499      3,109      2,809         2,804        2,849
<FN>
- ------------------------------
(1)  In the fourth quarter of fiscal 1993, the Company recorded a $40.6  million
     restructuring  charge ($27.2 million, or $4.14 per share, net of income tax
     effect). Without this restructuring charge net earnings in 1993 would  have
     been $1.6 million, or $.24 per share.
(2)  Net  earnings  in  1995  reflect  nonrecurring  items  including  a pre-tax
     restructuring credit of  $2.1 million, or  $.20 per share  on an  after-tax
     basis, and a pre-tax patent infringement settlement credit of $1.3 million,
     or $.12 per share on an after-tax basis, both of which were recorded in the
     third  quarter of fiscal 1995. Without  these credits, net earnings in 1995
     would have been $15.2 million, or $2.21 per share.
(3)  Interest expense in 1995 is net of $1.2 million of interest income.
(4)  Net earnings in 1994 reflect a $2.0 million, or $.30 per share, tax benefit
     recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal  1994 as a result of a  settlement
     with  the Internal  Revenue Service. Net  earnings in 1994  would have been
     $5.6 million, or $.85 per share, without this credit.
(5)  Research,  development  and  related  engineering  costs  are  included  in
     selling, general and administrative expense.
</TABLE>
    

                                       11
<PAGE>
                MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
                     OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

    THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  AND NOTES  THERETO OF  THE  COMPANY AND  ITS SUBSIDIARIES
INCLUDED ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.

GENERAL

   
    The  Company  consists  of  12  individual  businesses  divided  into  three
operating   business   segments:   Automation,   Aerospace   and   Defense,  and
Instrumentation.  These  three  operating  business  segments  consist  of   six
principal  businesses. The Automation Group's  principal businesses are Excellon
and Whitney. The Aerospace and  Defense Group's principal businesses are  Armtec
and  Auxitrol. The Instrumentation Group's  principal businesses are Federal and
Korry. These six principal businesses  of Esterline generated approximately  78%
and  82% of  the Company's net  sales and 89%  and 83% of  operating earnings in
fiscal 1994 and 1995, respectively.
    

    The Company's business is susceptible to economic cycles and its results can
vary widely  based  on a  number  of  factors, including  domestic  and  foreign
economic  conditions  and  developments affecting  the  specific  industries and
customers they serve. The  products sold by most  of these businesses  represent
capital  investment  or support  for capital  investment  by either  the initial
customer or the ultimate end user. Also, a significant portion of the sales  and
profitability  of  some Company  businesses is  derived  from defense  and other
government contracts or  the commercial  aircraft industry.  Changes in  general
economic  conditions or  conditions in specific  industries, capital acquisition
cycles, and  government  policies,  collectively or  individually,  can  have  a
significant  effect  on  the  Company's  results  of  operations  and  financial
condition.

   
    In the fourth quarter of fiscal  1993, the Company recorded a $40.6  million
restructuring  charge  ($27.2 million,  or $4.14  per share,  net of  income tax
effect). The restructuring  plan provided for  the sale or  shutdown of  certain
small  operations, the write-off of intangible assets, anticipated losses on the
sale  of  vacant  facilities  and   product  lines,  employees'  severance   and
consolidation  of  facilities and  product lines  for increased  efficiency. The
objective of the plan was to strengthen the Company for long-term growth and  to
permit  management  to focus  on operations  with  strong market  positions. The
estimated costs represented the Company's best assessment of the plan,  although
the  Company expected that some cost elements of the original plan could change.
During the third quarter of fiscal 1995, several remaining restructuring actions
were completed and the  Company comprehensively reviewed all  of the actions  as
they  were originally  contemplated. Asset  accounts, including  intangibles and
accrued liabilities associated with the plan  were adjusted such that the  total
restructuring costs were lowered to $38.5 million. As a result, the Company took
a restructuring credit in the third quarter of fiscal 1995 of $2.1 million ($1.4
million,  or $.20  per share,  net of  income tax),  or approximately  5% of the
original charge. No other amounts related to the restructuring plan were charged
or credited to earnings since the inception of the plan. Cash impacts of actions
taken during  this period  were not  significant nor  materially different  than
originally  anticipated. The Company's restructuring action is now substantially
complete.
    

   
    In October 1995, the Company identified irregularities in the allocation  of
certain  labor charges at Armtec, and promptly disclosed these irregularities to
the Department of Defense.  Armtec applied for admittance  to the Department  of
Defense  Voluntary Disclosure Program but has not yet been advised regarding its
admittance to the  Program. The outside  attorneys and governmental  contracting
consultant  that  were retained  by the  Company  to assist  in this  matter are
continuing their internal  investigation. At  this stage  of the  investigation,
management  believes that  the eventual  outcome of this  issue will  not have a
material adverse effect on the financial position or future operating results of
the Company. See "Risk Factors --  Effect of Government Contract Provisions  and
Audits."
    

                                       12
<PAGE>
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

   
  YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1995 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1994
    

   
    Net  sales in 1995 were  $351.9 million compared with  $294 million in 1994.
The sales improvement was primarily attributable to the Automation Group,  where
sales increased $47.5 million or 44% to $156.1 million. Continuing strong demand
for the group's automated manufacturing equipment, particularly at Excellon, was
primarily  responsible for the sales increase.  Sales in the Company's two other
groups, Aerospace and Defense,  and Instrumentation, also  improved in 1995.  In
the  Aerospace and Defense Group, sales for 1995 were $98 million, compared with
$93.4 million in the  prior year. The Automation  Group benefited from a  strong
market for automated manufacturing equipment, particularly at Excellon where the
growing   capacity  requirements   of  circuit   board  manufacturers   and  the
proliferation of increasingly smaller holes  is helping to drive replacement  of
older  drilling  machines.  Instrumentation  Group  sales  for  1995  were $97.8
million, versus $92 million in 1994. This increase was primarily a result of new
product introductions and  expanded sales efforts  at Federal. Including  export
sales  by domestic operations,  sales to foreign  buyers totalled $124.1 million
and $91.0 million in 1995 and 1994,  respectively and accounted for 35% and  31%
of the Company's total sales in each year, respectively.
    

   
    Cost of sales increased to $210.8 million in 1995 from $178.4 million in the
prior  year primarily due  to the increased sales  volume discussed above. Gross
margin as a percentage  of sales improved  slightly to 40% in  1995 from 39%  in
1994  primarily due to  the operating leverage  of increased sales  in all three
groups. This  increase  was somewhat  mitigated  by a  decrease  in sales  at  a
partially  owned  Russian  distributorship  and  costs  related  to  the  Armtec
investigation. Gross margin percentages by business segment increased in 1995 in
both the Automation and  Instrumentation Groups, and  declined in the  Aerospace
and  Defense Group.  By group,  gross margins  ranged from  39% to  41% in 1995,
compared with 39% to 42% in the prior year.
    

   
    Selling, general  and  administrative  expenses  (which  includes  corporate
expenses,  and research, development and  related engineering costs but excludes
the restructuring credit)  for 1995  increased to $112.2  million compared  with
$100.8  million in 1994. As a percent of sales, however, they decreased from 34%
in 1994 to 32% in  1995 because of cost  containment and operating leverage  the
Company  is experiencing due  to increased sales  volumes. Research, development
and related engineering costs for 1995 increased to $16.6 million, versus  $13.7
million  in 1994,  reflecting the Company's  continuing commitment  to invest in
strategic product development programs.
    

   
    Operating earnings  (excluding  corporate  expenses  and  the  restructuring
credit)  increased from  $23.3 million  in 1994  to $37.3  million in  1995. The
improvement was primarily  attributable to the  Automation Group where  earnings
more  than doubled  to $24.2  million in  1995 from  $11.9 million  in 1994. The
Automation Group's  earnings improvement  is due  to the  operating leverage  of
increased  sales.  The  earnings  of the  Instrumentation  Group  also increased
sharply from $1.5 million to $6.6 million due to favorable product mix of  sales
and receipt of a patent infringement settlement of $1.3 million.
    

   
    Interest income for 1995 was $1.2 million compared with $0.1 million in 1994
due  to increases  in cash and  equivalents which were  generated primarily from
operations.
    

   
    Interest expense for  1995 was $5.6  million compared with  $6.1 million  in
1994 due primarily to reduced debt levels.
    

   
    The  effective income tax rate  for 1995 was 34%  compared with 14% in 1994.
This increase was primarily due to a $2.0 million benefit recorded in 1994  from
a  settlement with  the Internal  Revenue Service  of audits  of certain federal
income tax returns.
    

   
    Net earnings for 1995, were $17.4 million, or $2.53 per share, compared with
net earnings  of $7.6  million, or  $1.15 per  share in  the prior-year  period.
Earnings  in the current-year period include $.20  per share and $.12 per share,
respectively, from the restructuring  credit and patent infringement  settlement
discussed above.
    

   
    Orders  for 1995, were  $358.3 million, compared with  $319.4 million a year
earlier. The increase was primarily attributable to the Automation Group and its
improved markets as discussed above. Backlog at
    

                                       13
<PAGE>
   
October 31, 1995 was $103.2 million, compared with $96.8 million a year earlier.
Approximately  $11.9  million  of  Company-wide  backlog  was  scheduled  to  be
delivered after 1996. Orders in backlog are subject to cancellation.
    

   
  YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1994 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1993
    

    Net sales in 1994 were $294.0 million, compared with $285.2 million in 1993.
The 1994 sales improvement was attributable to the Automation Group, where sales
increased  $14.2 million  or 15%  to $108.6  million. Strengthening  of domestic
markets coupled with strong customer  acceptance of newer products,  principally
at  Excellon,  contributed  to the  sales  growth.  This sales  increase  in the
Automation Group was primarily attributable  to sales increases at Excellon  and
at Whitney. Instrumentation Group sales stabilized and were virtually level with
the  prior year at $92.0 million, while sales in the Aerospace and Defense Group
decreased $5.7 million or 6% to $93.4 million. The sale of Republic  Electronics
Co. in the second quarter of 1994 accounted for approximately two-thirds of this
decrease. Including export sales by domestic operations, sales to foreign buyers
totaled  $91.0 million  and $89.3  million in  1994 and  1993, respectively, and
accounted for 31% of the Company's total sales in each year.

    Cost of sales  increased to $178.4  million in 1994  from $175.6 million  in
1993.  This increase  was primarily  attributable to  the increase  in net sales
discussed above. Gross margin as a percentage of sales increased slightly to 39%
in 1994 from 38% in 1993. Gross margin percentages by business segment increased
in 1994 in both the Aerospace  and Defense and Instrumentation Groups, and  were
approximately  level in the Automation Group. In 1994, group margins ranged from
38% to 42%, compared with 37% to 40% in the prior year.

    Selling, general and  administrative expenses  in 1994 were  level with  the
prior  year at $100.8 million. However, they  decreased slightly as a percent of
sales from 35% to 34%.  The costs related to  the corporate expenses portion  of
selling,  general and  administrative expenses amount  to $8.5  million in 1994,
compared with $7.2 million in 1993. This increase was primarily attributable  to
additional  performance-based compensation being awarded to senior management as
a result of the Company's improved  earnings in 1994. The research,  development
and  related engineering  costs portion  of selling,  general and administrative
expenses amounted to $13.7 million in 1994, compared with $14.0 million in 1993,
reflecting the Company's  continuing commitment to  invest in strategic  product
development programs.

    Operating  earnings (excluding corporate expenses and restructuring charges)
in 1994 improved  in all three  of the Company's  business segments and  totaled
$23.3  million, compared with  $16.1 million in the  prior year. The improvement
was primarily attributable to the Automation Group where earnings advanced  $4.0
million over the prior year primarily as a result of the earnings improvement at
Excellon  and  Whitney.  Overall,  operating  earnings  reflect  a  $2.6 million
reduction in  depreciation and  amortization expense  as a  result of  the  1993
restructuring, and continued cost containment measures.

    Net  interest expense decreased from $6.3 million in 1993 to $6.0 million in
1994 due to reduced debt levels, offset by increases in interest rates.

    Income tax  expense in  1994 was  $1.3 million,  reflecting a  $2.0  million
benefit  recorded in the fourth quarter of 1994 resulting from a settlement with
the Internal Revenue  Service of audits  of certain federal  income tax  returns
compared with an income tax benefit of $12.4 million recorded in 1993.

    Net  earnings in  1994 were  $7.6 million,  or $1.15  per share  on sales of
$294.0 million, compared with a net loss of $25.6 million, or $3.90 per share on
sales of $285.2 million in 1993. Net  earnings in 1994 reflect the $2.0  million
tax  benefit recorded in  the fourth quarter resulting  from the settlement with
the Internal Revenue  Service. Net  earnings in  1993 included  a $27.2  million
after  tax  ($40.6  million  before tax)  restructuring  provision.  Without the
restructuring charge, 1993 net  earnings would have been  $1.6 million, or  $.24
per share.

    Orders  for the year ended October 31,  1994 totaled $319.0 million, up more
than 20% from the prior year. Company-wide backlog at the end of 1994 was  $97.0
million compared with $74.0 million a year earlier. The increases were primarily
attributable   to  the  Automation  Group,  where  year-end  backlog  levels  of

                                       14
<PAGE>
   
$30.0  million  were  more  than   triple  the  prior-year  amount,   reflecting
strengthening  markets and the introduction of  new products in 1993. Backlog at
the Company's  two  other  groups were  relatively  consistent  with  prior-year
levels. Approximately $11.0 million of 1994's Company-wide backlog was scheduled
to be shipped after fiscal 1995. Orders in backlog are subject to cancellation.
    

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

   
    Total debt at October 31, 1995 was $50.3 million, $12.1 million less than at
October  31, 1994.  This debt reduction  primarily reflects  early redemption of
$20.0 million  principal  amount  of  8.25%  Convertible  Debentures  which  was
effected  in May 1995 using available cash. Cash and cash equivalents on hand at
October 31,  1995 totaled  $22.1  million, an  increase  of $13.0  million  from
October 31, 1994. Working capital at October 31, 1995 increased to $37.8 million
from  $10.5 million  at October  31, 1994 primarily  due to  cash generated from
operations, and  to  reductions  in  accrued liabilities  related  to  the  1993
restructuring.
    

   
    Of  the  total  debt outstanding  at  October  31, 1995,  $40.0  million was
outstanding under  the Company's  8.75% Senior  Notes, nothing  was  outstanding
under  the Company's  bank credit  facility, and  $10.3 million  was outstanding
under the various bank  credit facilities and  other debt agreements,  primarily
those  related to Auxitrol. The Company's financing arrangements contain various
restrictions, including maintenance  of net worth,  various cash flow,  leverage
and  fixed  charge coverage  ratios,  and limitations  on  capital expenditures,
disposition of  assets  and  securities  proceeds,  payment  of  dividends,  and
additional borrowings.
    

   
    Capital  expenditures,  consisting  primarily  of  machinery,  equipment and
computers, are anticipated to be approximately $18.0 million during fiscal 1996,
compared with $11.5 million in fiscal 1995. In addition, the Company is required
to prepay $5.7 million principal amount of the Senior Notes on July 30, 1996 and
each year thereafter until the Senior Notes mature on July 30, 2002.  Management
believes  cash  on hand,  funds generated  from  operations, and  available bank
credit lines at December 21, 1995 of approximately $37.9 million will adequately
service cash requirements through fiscal 1996.
    

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

    In March 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement  of
Financial  Accounting  Standards  No.  121, "Accounting  for  the  Impairment of
Long-Lived Assets  and  for Long-Lived  Assets  to  be Disposed  Of,"  which  is
effective  for fiscal  years beginning after  December 15,  1995. This Statement
requires that long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles to be  held
and  used by an entity be reviewed  for impairment whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate  that the  carrying  amount may  not be  recoverable.  In
addition,   this  Statement   requires  that   long-lived  assets   and  certain
identifiable intangibles to be disposed of be reported at the lower of  carrying
amount  or fair value less  cost to sell. The adoption  of this Statement is not
expected to have any material impact on the consolidated financial statements of
the Company.

   
    In October 1995, the Financial  Accounting Standards Board issued  Statement
of   Financial  Accounting  Standards  No.   123,  "Accounting  for  Stock-Based
Compensation," which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December  15,
1994.  This  Statement  defines and  prescribes  a  fair value  based  method of
accounting for  stock-based compensation  plans in  which compensation  cost  is
computed at the option grant date and expensed over a service period. While full
adoption  of  this  Statement  is encouraged,  companies  will  be  permitted to
continue accounting for stock-based compensation  under the current guidance  of
APB Opinion No. 25; provided that certain pro forma disclosures of the impact of
full  implementation are made. The adoption of this Statement is not expected to
have any  material  impact  on  the consolidated  financial  statements  of  the
Company.
    

   
    In  December 1994,  the American  Institute of  Certified Public Accountants
issued Statement of Position 94-6  "Disclosure of Certain Significant Risks  and
Uncertainties,"  which is effective  for fiscal years  ending after December 15,
1995. This  Statement  of  Position requires  additional  disclosures  in  their
financial  statements  about certain  risks  and uncertainties  relating  to the
nature of operations,  the use of  estimates, and vulnerability  due to  certain
concentrations.  The adoption of  this Statement of Position  is not expected to
have any  material  impact  on  the consolidated  financial  statements  of  the
Company.
    

                                       15
<PAGE>
                                    BUSINESS

GENERAL

   
    Esterline  is  a diversified  manufacturing company  that has  strong market
positions within  a  variety  of  general  manufacturing  industries,  including
electronic  equipment, metal fabrication, commercial  aerospace and defense. The
Company conducts its operations through three business segments: its  Automation
Group, Aerospace and Defense Group, and Instrumentation Group. The six principal
subsidiaries  of Esterline generated approximately 78%  and 82% of net sales and
89%  and  83%  of  operating  earnings,  (excluding  restructuring  charges  and
corporate  expenses), in fiscal  1994 and 1995,  respectively. The six principal
subsidiaries are  Excellon  and Whitney  in  the Automation  Group,  Armtec  and
Auxitrol  in  the Aerospace  and Defense  Group,  and Federal  and Korry  in the
Instrumentation Group.
    

   
    Esterline's senior  management group  joined  the Company  in 1987.  In  its
efforts   to  improve   stockholder  returns,   management  has   downsized  and
restructured the Company and navigated it through extended downturns in both the
electronics capital goods  and commercial aerospace  and defense markets.  Since
October  31, 1989, senior  management has reduced the  Company's total debt from
$172.1 million  to  $50.3 million  at  October  31, 1995.  Today,  Esterline  is
enjoying  the benefits of  its increased operating  leverage as a  result of its
restructuring efforts and improving capital goods markets.
    

OPERATING STRATEGY

    The Company's operating strategy consists of the following key elements:

  FOCUS ON MANUFACTURING HIGHLY ENGINEERED PRODUCTS IN NICHE MARKETS

    Management believes that engineered  products with technological  advantages
help  maintain strong market shares which  provide the opportunity to earn above
average profit  margins. Esterline's  subsidiaries  focus on  highly  engineered
products  for  industrial  customers.  The  Company  focuses  new  research  and
development investments on developing new  or enhanced products for  established
industrial   markets  with   technology  that  is   easily  differentiated  from
competitors. The  Company  avoids commodity-type  products  where price  is  the
primary  competitive element  or industries where  profit margins  are low. Even
during market  downturns,  the  Company  provides  financial  resources  to  its
operating  units for the research and development of new or enhanced products in
an effort to maintain technological advantages. As an example, Excellon invested
heavily in the development of highly efficient automated drilling systems during
the cyclical downturn of 1991  and 1992, and when the  markets began to turn  in
late 1993, Excellon emerged with a significantly improved drilling system having
enhanced productivity capabilities able to achieve a lower cost per hole for its
customers.

  IMPLEMENT PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

    Esterline  corporate  management supports  stand-alone  operating management
teams at  each Esterline  subsidiary. Esterline  has developed  a  comprehensive
system  of monitoring its  separate business units  and actively participates in
the strategic  management of  each subsidiary.  The Company  believes that  this
management  approach allows it  to increase the value  of small- to medium-sized
manufacturing  businesses  by  bringing  professional  management  practices  to
traditional  entrepreneurial operations. The  Company's key management personnel
use their knowledge and experience to  assist each operating unit in  developing
long-term  strategies  in key  areas such  as  new products,  manufacturing, and
pricing  and  marketing  on  a  world-wide   basis.  One  example  of  this   is
Manufacturing  Resource Planning Systems ("MRP II") where Esterline's management
has gained extensive experience  in connection with the  installation of MRP  II
systems  at its subsidiaries. Where employed, MRP  II has allowed the use of new
competitive   manufacturing   techniques--    just-in-time   work   cells    and
quick-response, short lead time manufacturing.

  INCENTIVIZE MANAGEMENT TO OBTAIN ABOVE AVERAGE RETURN FOR STOCKHOLDERS

    The  Company's goal is to provide  stockholders with an above average return
on equity. The compensation system for senior management is consistent with this
goal, rewarding  performance  not only  with  respect to  the  Company's  annual
results  but also  long-term Company  performance relative  to specific industry
indices. Specifically,  under  the long-term  plan,  a new  four-year  cycle  is
established each year in which payouts are tied to Company performance (measured
by    return    on    equity,    and    growth    in    earnings    per   share)

                                       16
<PAGE>
relative to such indices.  In addition, financial  incentives for key  operating
unit  personnel are consistent  with the goals stated  above. These managers are
eligible for bonuses based on subsidiary-specific return on investment incentive
compensation plans.

  PURSUE SELECTIVE ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES

    Strategic acquisitions are an important  element in achieving the  Company's
long-term growth objectives, and the Company has intensified its efforts in this
regard  with the extensive involvement of  top management at the corporate level
and key operating unit personnel. The Company's acquisition focus will  continue
to  be in the areas  it knows well --  technically based manufacturing companies
delivering products  to  industrial customers  --  where its  management  team's
knowledge  and  experience  can  add  value.  Esterline  management  is  seeking
stand-alone operations with revenues in the  $40 million to $100 million  range,
or  smaller companies  or product  lines that  complement the  Company's current
market and product focus. A team of senior Esterline managers has been assembled
to actively identify and evaluate  potential candidates. This team is  currently
reviewing  a  number  of  potential candidates;  however,  it  currently  has no
commitments, agreements or understandings to acquire any specific businesses  or
other  material assets.  With the  proceeds from  this offering  and the reduced
financial leverage,  the  Company should  be  well-positioned from  a  financial
standpoint to successfully complete acquisitions.

AUTOMATION GROUP

   
    The  Automation Group  consists of four  subsidiaries of  which Excellon and
Whitney are the principal subsidiaries. In fiscal 1994 and 1995, the  Automation
Group  accounted  for 37%  and 44%,  respectively, of  the Company's  net sales.
Equipment Sales  Co.  and  Tulon  Co. comprise  the  remaining  members  of  the
Automation Group.
    

  EXCELLON

    Excellon  is a leading  manufacturer of highly  efficient automated drilling
systems for  the  printed circuit  board  manufacturing industry.  Excellon  has
experienced  significant growth over  the past two years,  fueled by the growing
capacity  requirements   of  printed   circuit  board   manufacturers  and   the
proliferation  of increasingly  more complex boards  which is  helping to render
older printed  circuit  board  drilling machines  obsolete.  As  new  electronic
applications multiply, board designers are forced to integrate increasingly more
functions  into smaller  packages, requiring more  PCB holes,  smaller holes and
much tighter tolerances  between holes.  Management believes  that its  drilling
systems  enable its customers  to achieve one  of the lowest  costs per hole, an
increasingly important consideration in the cost-conscious electronics industry.

    Excellon's high levels of research  and development expenditures are key  to
maintaining   its   important   technology  lead.   Excellon's   latest  product
developments are  micro-drilling  machines  that automatically  load  or  unload
circuit  boards in combination with  fully integrated material handling systems.
These drilling  equipment  systems,  in  combination  with  Excellon's  powerful
software,  respond to customer needs for increased flexibility--smaller, shorter
production runs--in an automated production  environment. These units feature  a
tool management system that provides access to 600 tools per spindle, integrated
laser  inspection for broken  bits, and full Z-axis  control for precision depth
drilling.  Depending  on  the  configuration  ordered,  Excellon's  System  2000
machine,  for example, can automatically load circuit board material onto one of
five  drilling   stations,   drill   the  board   to   exacting   pre-programmed
specifications,  and then unload  the finished boards.  This level of automation
translates into dramatic  productivity advantages for  Excellon's customers.  An
Excellon  system can provide access to any function of the drilling machine, and
full process  analysis  traceability  of  system  or  operator  performance  and
statistical process control. Yet, its color touch-screen with easy-to-read menus
available in nine different languages provides for ease of operation.

   
    Excellon  products are sold worldwide to  the PCB manufacturing industry, at
prices ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. The three largest markets for the  PCB
manufacturers  are the computer (35%), communications (25%) and automotive (12%)
markets. Since August 1994, AT&T Corp., one of Excellon's largest customers  and
one  of  the world's  leading  producers of  PCBs,  has installed  more  than 46
Excellon  drilling  systems,  served  by  fully  integrated  material   handling
equipment.
    

   
    In  fiscal 1993,  1994 and  1995, printed  circuit board  drilling equipment
accounted for 16%, 18% and 26%  respectively, of the Company's consolidated  net
sales.
    

                                       17
<PAGE>
  WHITNEY

    Whitney  designs  and builds  highly productive  automated machine  tool and
material handling systems for cutting and punching sheet, plate, and  structural
steel  for  construction,  transportation,  agricultural  and  mining  equipment
manufacturers  and  independent  steel  fabrication  centers.  Whitney  produces
equipment  specifically  designed for  mid- to  heavy  plate metal  that enables
manufacturers to  meet  rigid  cut quality  and  accuracy  standards.  Whitney's
computer-controlled  heavy  punching and  cutting machines  significantly reduce
setup time,  decrease work-in-process  time and  material handling,  and  enable
customers  to  utilize just-in-time  production  to lower  inventory  and costs.
Management believes that Whitney's proprietary TRUECut-TM- oxygen plasma cutting
technology virtually  eliminates  rejected  parts and  additional  finish  work,
resulting  in  improved throughput  and  reduced cost  per  part. In  its niche,
Whitney is a leading supplier in the United States, and has market positions  in
both  Europe and  Asia. Whitney  continually evaluates  new approaches  to metal
cutting such as laser technology, but to  date has not found such technology  to
be competitive with Whitney's current systems in its market niche.

  OTHER

    EQUIPMENT   SALES   CO.  acts   as  a   sales  representative   for  various
manufacturers' products sold to the PCB assembly industry, including  high-speed
assembly equipment.

    TULON  CO. produces tungsten carbide drill and router bits, commonly ranging
in size from 5.6mm down  to .25mm -- some  as small as .10mm  -- for use in  PCB
drilling   equipment.   Tulon   Co.   utilizes   computerized   equipment  which
automatically inspects drill bits and provides the product consistency customers
need for  higher-technology  drilling.  Tulon  Co.'s products  can  be  used  in
drilling  machines produced by other companies  as well as the machines produced
by Excellon.

  BACKLOG

   
    At October 31, 1995  the backlog of  the Automation Group  (all of which  is
expected  to be filled during fiscal 1996) was $35.9 million compared with $29.9
million at  October  31,  1994.  The  increase  was  primarily  attributable  to
strengthening  markets  and  strong  customer  acceptance  of  Excellon's  newer
products.
    

AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE GROUP

   
    The Aerospace  and Defense  Group  consists of  five subsidiaries  of  which
Auxitrol and Armtec are the principal subsidiaries. In fiscal 1994 and 1995, the
Aerospace  and  Defense Group  accounted for  32% and  28% respectively,  of the
Company's net  sales. Hytek  Finishes Co.,  Midcon Cables  Co. and  TA Mfg.  Co.
comprise the remaining companies in the Aerospace and Defense Group.
    

  ARMTEC

   
    Armtec manufactures molded fiber cartridge cases, mortar increments, igniter
tubes  and other combustible  ammunition components for  the United States Armed
Forces  and  licenses  such  technology  to  foreign  defense  contractors   and
governments.  Armtec  currently  is  a principal  U.S.  producer  of combustible
ordnance products utilized by  the U.S. Army. These  products include the  120mm
combustible  case used as the main armament  system on the U.S. Army's M-1A1 and
M-1A2 tanks, the  60mm, 81mm and  120mm combustible mortar  increments, and  the
155mm  combustible case for artillery ammunition.  As opposed to metal cartridge
casings, Armtec's products are part of the ammunition propulsion system and  are
combusted  when fired.  In conjunction  with the  U.S. Army's  development of an
improved solid  propellant  propulsion system  for  155mm artillery,  Armtec  is
developing   what  management  expects  will   become  the  next  generation  of
specialized modular cartridge cases.
    

   
    In October 1995, the Company identified irregularities in the allocation  of
certain  labor charges at Armtec, and promptly disclosed these irregularities to
the Department of Defense.  Armtec applied for admittance  to the Department  of
Defense  Voluntary Disclosure Program but has not yet been advised regarding its
admittance to the  Program. The outside  attorneys and governmental  contracting
consultant  that  were retained  by the  Company  to assist  in this  matter are
continuing their internal  investigation. At  this stage  of the  investigation,
management  believes that  the eventual  outcome of this  issue will  not have a
material adverse effect on the financial position or future operating results of
the Company. See "Risk Factors --  Effect of Government Contract Provisions  and
Audits."
    

                                       18
<PAGE>
  AUXITROL

    Auxitrol,  headquartered in France,  manufactures high precision temperature
and  pressure  sensing  devices  used   primarily  in  aerospace  and   aviation
applications,  liquid  level measurement  devices for  ships and  storage tanks,
pneumatic accessories (including pressure gauges and regulators) and  industrial
alarms.   Auxitrol's  principal  customers  are  jet  engine  and  rocket  motor
manufacturers,  aerospace  equipment   manufacturers,  shipbuilders,   petroleum
companies,  processors and  electric utilities. Exhaust  gas temperature sensing
equipment for a  jet engine  manufacturer constitutes a  significant portion  of
Auxitrol's  sales. Auxitrol  also distributes  products manufactured  by others,
including valves, temperature and pressure switches and flow gauges.

    Auxitrol also manufactures electrical penetration devices under license  for
certain  European  and other  foreign  nuclear power  plants.  These penetration
devices permit electrical signals to go into and out of containment domes  while
maintaining  pressure integrity and signal continuity. In addition, Auxitrol has
entered into a joint  venture with a  Russian company to  facilitate use of  its
penetration  devices in retrofitting the aging nuclear plants in Eastern Europe,
where growing industrialization requires new power sources.

  OTHER

    HYTEK FINISHES  CO.  provides  specialized metal  finishing  and  inspection
services,  including plating, anodizing,  polishing, non-destructive testing and
organic  coatings,  primarily   to  the  commercial   aircraft,  aerospace   and
electronics  markets.  Hytek  also  has  an  automated  tin-lead  plating  line,
employing among the  most advanced  automated plating technology,  to serve  the
semi-conductor industry.

    MIDCON  CABLES CO.  manufactures electronic and  electrical cable assemblies
and cable harnesses for the military, government contractors and the  commercial
electronics  market,  offering  both  product design  services  and  assembly of
product to customer specifications. Its proprietary cable, trademarked EverFlex,
uses an internally developed,  patented design to provide  a unique solution  to
significant  problems in  wiring applications involving  vibration, abrasion and
repetitive movement.

    TA MFG.  CO.  designs  and manufactures  specialty  clamps  and  elastomeric
compounds  in  custom  molded shapes  for  wiring and  tubing  installations for
airframe and jet engine manufacturers as well as military and commercial airline
aftermarkets.  TA's   products   include  proprietary   elastomers   which   are
specifically    formulated   for   various   extreme   applications,   including
high-temperature environments on or near a jet engine.

  BACKLOG

   
    At October 31, 1995 the backlog of the Aerospace and Defense Group (of which
$4.6 million is  expected to  be filled after  fiscal 1996)  was $36.3  million,
compared with $38.9 million at October 31, 1994.
    

INSTRUMENTATION GROUP

   
    The  Instrumentation Group consists  of three subsidiaries  of which Federal
and Korry are the principal subsidiaries.  In fiscal 1994 and 1995, the  Group's
net  sales represented  31% and 28%,  respectively, of the  Company's net sales.
Angus Electronics Co. is the other company in the Instrumentation Group.
    

  FEDERAL

    Federal manufactures  a  broad line  of  high-precision analog  and  digital
dimensional and surface measurement and inspection instruments and systems for a
wide   range  of   industrial  quality  control   and  scientific  applications.
Manufacturers use Federal equipment for direct shop-floor inspections to  reduce
costly  rework at more  advanced production stages.  Federal's products include:
dial indicators, air gauges  and other precision  gauges; electronic gauges  for
use where high-precision measurement is required; and custom-built and dedicated
semi-automatic  and automatic gauging systems. Distributed products manufactured
by others include laser interferometer  systems used primarily to check  machine
tool  calibrations.  Federal equipment  is used  extensively in  precision metal
working. Its  markets  include  the  automotive,  farm  implement,  construction
equipment, aerospace, ordnance and bearing industries.

   
    In  each of fiscal years 1993, 1994 and 1995, gauge products manufactured by
Federal  accounted  for  13%,  13%  and  12%,  respectively,  of  the  Company's
consolidated net sales.
    

                                       19
<PAGE>
  KORRY

    Korry   is  a   market  and   technology  leader   in  the   manufacture  of
high-reliability electro-optical components and systems, illuminated push button
switches, indicators, panels  and keyboards that  act as human  interfaces in  a
broad  variety of control and display applications for the aerospace and defense
industry. Korry's  products  have  been designed  into  many  existing  aircraft
systems,  and  as a  result,  Korry enjoys  a  considerable spares  and retrofit
business. Korry's  customers include  original equipment  manufacturers and  the
aftermarkets  (equipment operators  and spare parts  distributors), primarily in
the commercial aviation, military airborne, ground-based military equipment  and
shipboard  military equipment markets. Korry's  proprietary products provide its
customers with  a significant  technological advantage  in such  areas as  night
vision--a  top defense priority--and in the area of active matrix liquid crystal
displays, a technology expected to have broad usage in commercial aerospace  and
military applications.

  OTHER

   
    ANGUS ELECTRONICS CO. manufactures recording instruments together with other
analytical  and  process,  and environmental  monitoring  instrumentation. These
include analog strip chart and digital printout recorders as well as  electronic
and  multi-channel microprocessor-based recording  equipment. Customers of Angus
Electronics include  industrial  equipment  manufacturers,  electric  utilities,
scientific laboratories, pharmaceutical manufacturers and process industries.
    

  BACKLOG

   
    At October 31, 1995, the backlog of the Instrumentation Group (of which $7.4
million  is expected to be filled after  fiscal 1996) was $31.1 million compared
with $28.0 million at October 31, 1994.
    

MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION

    For most of the Company's products, the maintenance of a service  capability
is  an integral part of  the marketing function. Each  of the Company's separate
operating  units  maintains  its  own  separate  and  distinct  sales  force  or
distributor relationships.

    Automation Group products manufactured by Excellon are marketed domestically
principally  through  employees and  in foreign  markets through  employees, and
independent  distributors.  Whitney  products   are  sold  principally   through
independent distributors and representatives.

    Aerospace  and Defense  Group products  manufactured by  Armtec are marketed
domestically and abroad by employees and independent representatives. Auxitrol's
products  are   marketed   in   Europe   through   employees   and   independent
representatives.

    Instrumentation  Group  products  manufactured  by  Federal  and  Korry  are
marketed domestically  principally through  employees,  and in  foreign  markets
through both employees and independent representatives.

EMPLOYEES

   
    The  Company and its  subsidiaries had 2,849 employees  at October 31, 1995.
Less than 10% of these employees were members of an organized labor union.
    

COMPETITION AND PATENTS

    The Company's subsidiaries  experience varying degrees  of competition  with
respect  to  all  of  their  products and  services.  Most  subsidiaries  are in
specialized market niches with relatively few competitors. The Company  competes
in  most markets it serves with numerous other companies, many of which have far
greater sales volume  and financial  resources than the  Company. The  principal
competitive  factors in the commercial markets in which the Company participates
are product  performance  and  service. Part  of  product  performance  requires
expenditures  in research and development that  lead to product improvement on a
rapid basis. The  market for many  of the Company's  products maybe affected  by
rapid  and  significant  technological  changes  and  new  product introduction.
Current competitors or new entrants  could introduce new products with  features
that  render  the Company's  products  obsolete or  less  marketable. Excellon's
principal competitors  are  Hitachi,  Ltd.  and  Pluritec.  Whitney's  principal
competitors are Mazak, Cincinnati

                                       20
<PAGE>
Milacron,  U.S. Amada, and  Trumpf. Auxitrol's principal  competitors are Ametek
and Rosemount.  Federal's  principal  competitors  are  Starrett  and  Mitutoyo.
Korry's  principal  competitors are  Eaton-MSC  and Ducommun  Jay-El.  See "Risk
Factors -- Competition."

    The subsidiaries hold a number of  patents but in general rely on  technical
superiority,  exclusive features in their equipment and marketing and service to
customers to  meet  competition.  Licenses which  help  maintain  a  significant
advantage  over competition  include a  long-term license  agreement under which
Auxitrol manufactures and sells electrical penetration assemblies.

SOURCES AND AVAILABILITY OF RAW MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS

    Due to the Company's  diversification, the sources  and availability of  raw
materials  and components  are not nearly  as important  as they would  be for a
company that  manufactures a  single product.  In general,  the Company  is  not
dependent  for its raw materials  and components upon any  one source of supply.
However, certain components and supplies such as air bearing spindles  purchased
by  Excellon and hydraulic components purchased by Whitney and certain other raw
materials and components purchased  by other subsidiaries  are purchased from  a
single  source.  In such  instances, ongoing  efforts  are conducted  to develop
alternative sources or  designs to help  avoid the possibility  of any  business
impairment.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

    The  Company has various lawsuits and  claims, both offensive and defensive,
and contingent liabilities arising from the conduct of business, including those
associated with government contracting activities, none of which, in the opinion
of management, is expected to have a material effect on the Company's  financial
position or results of operations.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

    The   Company  is  subject  to  federal,  state,  local  and  foreign  laws,
regulations and ordinances  that (i)  govern activities or  operations that  may
have adverse environmental effects, such as discharges to air and water, as well
as  handling and  disposal practices  for solid  and hazardous  wastes, and (ii)
impose liability for  the costs of  cleaning up, and  certain damages  resulting
from,  sites of past spills, disposals or other releases of hazardous substances
(together, "Environmental Laws").

    The Company's various operations use certain substances and generate certain
wastes that  are  regulated as  or  may  be deemed  hazardous  under  applicable
Environmental  Laws, or for which the  Company has incurred cleanup obligations.
While the Company endeavors at each of its facilities to assure compliance  with
Environmental Laws and regulations, from time to time, operations of the Company
have   resulted  or  may   result  in  certain   noncompliance  with  applicable
requirements under Environmental Laws for which the Company has incurred cleanup
and related costs. However, the Company believes that any such noncompliance  or
cleanup  liability under  current Environmental Laws  would not  have a material
adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and financial condition.

    The Company has been identified as a potentially responsible party  ("PRP"),
pursuant   to  the  Comprehensive   Environmental  Response,  Compensation,  and
Liability Act of 1980, as amended ("CERCLA" or "Superfund"), and analogous state
Environmental Laws,  for  the  cleanup  of  contamination  resulting  from  past
disposals  of  hazardous wastes  at certain  sites to  which the  Company, among
others, sent wastes  in the past.  CERCLA requires  PRPs to pay  for cleanup  of
sites  from which there  has been a  release or threatened  release of hazardous
substances. Courts have interpreted CERCLA  to impose strict, joint and  several
liability  upon all  persons liable  for cleanup  costs. As  a practical matter,
however, at sites where there are multiple PRPs, the costs of cleanup  typically
are  allocated among  the parties according  to a volumetric  or other standard.
Although there can be no assurance, the Company believes, based on, among  other
things,  a review of the data available to the Company regarding each such site,
including the  minor volumes  of waste  which  the Company  is alleged  to  have
contributed,  and a comparison of  the Company's liability at  each such site to
settlements previously  reached  by  the  Company in  similar  cases,  that  its
liability  for  such  matters  will  not  be  material.  Nonetheless,  until the
Company's proportionate share is finally determined at each such site, there can
be no assurance that such matters, or any similar liabilities that arise in  the
future,  will not  have a  material adverse effect  on the  Company's results of
operations or financial condition.

                                       21
<PAGE>
                                   MANAGEMENT

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

    The names and ages  of all directors and  executive officers of the  Company
and the positions and offices held by such persons are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          NAME                  POSITION WITH THE COMPANY          AGE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------  ---
<S>                      <C>                                       <C>
Wendell P. Hurlbut       Chairman, President and Chief Executive   63
                          Officer
Gilbert W. Anderson      Director                                  67
John F. Clearman         Director                                  58
Edwin I. Colodny         Director                                  69
E. John Finn             Director                                  63
Robert F. Goldhammer     Director                                  64
Jerome J. Meyer          Director                                  57
Paul G. Schloemer        Director                                  67
Malcolm T. Stamper       Director                                  70
Robert W. Stevenson      Executive Vice President and Chief        56
                          Financial Officer, Secretary and
                          Treasurer
Robert W. Cremin         Senior Vice President and Group           55
                          Executive
Larry A. Kring           Group Vice President                      55
Stephen R. Larson        Group Vice President                      51
Marcia J.M. Greenberg    Vice President, Human Relations           43
</TABLE>

    The  Board of  Directors of  the Company  is divided  into three  classes of
directors whose terms expire in 1996 (Messrs. Finn, Goldhammer and Meyer),  1997
(Messrs.  Anderson, Hurlbut and Stamper) and 1998 (Messrs. Clearman, Colodny and
Schloemer). Set forth below is a description of the background of directors  and
executive officers of the Company.

    Mr.  Hurlbut has been Chairman, President  and Chief Executive Officer since
January 1993. From February 1989 through December 1992, he was President,  Chief
Executive  Officer  and a  director. From  June  1988 to  February 1989,  he was
President and Chief Operating Officer. From  November 1987 to June 1988, he  was
Executive  Vice President, Operations. From October  1978 to September 1989, Mr.
Hurlbut served  in  various capacities  ranging  from Group  Vice  President  to
President and Chief Executive Officer of Criton Technologies. From November 1972
to  October 1978 he  served as President  of Heath Tecna  Aerospace Company. Mr.
Hurlbut has a B.S. degree in Engineering from the University of Washington.  Mr.
Hurlbut  is also a member of the  Board of Directors of the National Association
of Manufacturers. He has been a director of the Company since 1989.

    Mr. Clearman is  the retired  President and  Chief Executive  Officer of  NC
Machinery  Co. (a heavy  machinery distributor), having  held such position from
1986 through 1994,  and is a  director of  Metropolitan Bancorp. He  has been  a
director of the Company since 1989.

   
    Mr.  Colodny is the retired Chairman of  USAir Group, Inc., having held such
position from  1983 to  1992 and  of  Counsel at  Paul, Hastings,  Janofsky  and
Walker.  Prior thereto,  for more  than five  years he  was President  and Chief
Executive Officer of USAir, Inc. and USAir Group, Inc. Mr. Colodny is a director
of USAir  Group, Inc.,  Lockheed  Martin Corporation,  Comsat, Inc.  and  Ascent
Entertainment Group, Inc. He has been a director of the Company since 1992.
    

    Mr. Schloemer is the retired President and Chief Executive Officer of Parker
Hannifin  Corporation (a manufacturer  of motion control  products), having held
such  position  from  1984  to  1993  and  is  a  director  of  Parker  Hannifin
Corporation,  Rubbermaid  Incorporated  and  AMP  Incorporated.  He  has  been a
director of the Company since 1993.

                                       22
<PAGE>
   
    Mr. Anderson  is  the  retired  President and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of
Physio-Control  Corporation (a medical equipment manufacturer), having held such
position from  1986 to  1991 and  is  a director  of Key  Trust Company  of  the
Northwest,  Optex  Biomedical, Inc.  (a  medical device  company)  and SpaceLabs
Medical. He has been a director of the Company since 1991.
    

    Mr.  Finn  is   the  retired   Chairman  of   Dorr-Oliver  Incorporated   (a
fluid/particle  treatment  equipment manufacturer),  having held  such positions
from 1988  to 1995,  and is  a director  of Dorr-Oliver  Incorporated,  Advanced
Refractory  Technologies  and  Stanley  Technology Group,  Inc.  and  is  on the
Advisory Board of Bay  Mills Ltd. He  has been a director  of the Company  since
1989.

    Mr. Goldhammer has been a partner at Concord International Investments Group
L.P.  since 1991.  Prior thereto,  he was a  Partner at  Rohammer Corporation (a
private investment company) from 1989  to 1991. He is  a director at EG&G,  Inc.
and  ImClone Systems,  Incorporated (a  biotechnology company),  and has  been a
director of the Company since 1974.

    Mr. Meyer has been  the Chairman and Chief  Executive Officer of  Tektronix,
Inc.  (an electronic equipment manufacturer) since 1990 and was the President of
Industrial Group of  Honeywell, Inc.  from 1988  to 1990.  He is  a director  of
Portland  General  Corporation  (an  electric  utility)  and  Standard Insurance
Company. He has been a director of the Company since 1992.

    Mr. Stamper  has been  the  Chairman of  Storytellers  Ink (a  publisher  of
children's  books) since 1990, and is the retired President and Vice Chairman of
The Boeing  Company, having  held  such position  from 1985  to  1992. He  is  a
director of Chrysler Corporation and Whittaker Corp. (an
aerospace/communications  company). He has been a  director of the Company since
1991.

    Mr. Stevenson has been Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,
Secretary and Treasurer since October 1987.  From March 1968 to September  1989,
Mr.  Stevenson served in various capacities ranging from Assistant Controller to
Executive Vice  President,  Chief  Financial Officer  and  Secretary  of  Criton
Technologies.  Mr. Stevenson has a M.B.A from  the Wharton School of Business at
the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. degree from Stanford University.

    Mr. Cremin has been Senior Vice President and Group Executive since  January
1991. From October 1987 to December 1990, he was Group Vice President. From July
1976  to September  1989, Mr. Cremin  served in various  capacities ranging from
Director, Program Analysis to Group  Vice President of Criton Technologies.  Mr.
Cremin  has  an  M.B.A.  from  Harvard Business  School  and  a  B.S.  degree in
Metallurgical Engineering from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.

    Mr. Kring has  been Group Vice  President since August  1993. From  November
1978  to July 1993, he was President  and Chief Executive Officer of Heath Tecna
Aerospace Co.,  a unit  of Ciba  Composites Division,  Anaheim, California.  Mr.
Kring  has a  M.B.A from  California State University  at Northridge  and a B.S.
degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue  University. He is a director  of
Active Apparel Group, Inc.

   
    Mr.  Larson has  been Group Vice  President since April  1991. From February
1978 to March 1993, he held various executive positions with Korry  Electronics,
part  of Criton Technologies, including  President and Executive Vice President,
Marketing. Mr. Larson has an M.B.A. degree from the University of Chicago and  a
B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University.
    

    Ms.  Greenberg has  been Vice President,  Human Relations  since March 1993.
From January 1992 to February 1993, she was a partner in the law firm of Bogle &
Gates, Seattle,  Washington. From  August  1984 to  December  1991, she  was  an
associate  attorney in the law  firm of Bogle & Gates.  Ms. Greenberg has a J.D.
degree from Northwestern University School of Law and a B.A. from Portland State
University.

                                       23
<PAGE>
         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

   
    The following  table sets  forth  certain information  regarding  beneficial
ownership  of the  Company's Common Stock  as of  October 31, 1995,  by (i) each
person who is  known by  the Company  to own beneficially  more than  5% of  the
Company's  Common Stock, (ii) each of the Company's directors, (iii) each of the
Company's named  executive  officers,  and  (iv)  all  directors  and  executive
officers of the Company as a group.
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                NUMBER OF   PERCENT OF
           NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER(1)              SHARES(2)      CLASS
- -------------------------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                            <C>          <C>
The Prudential Insurance Company of America                      661,389(3)       9.9%
  Prudential Plaza
  Newark, NJ 07102
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.                                        350,600(4)       5.3%
  World Financial Center, North Tower
  250 Vesey Street
  New York, NY 10281
Wendell P. Hurlbut                                               153,071(5)       2.3%
Robert W. Stevenson                                               86,612(5)       1.3%
Robert W. Cremin                                                  65,500(5)         *
Stephen R. Larson                                                 46,250(5)         *
Larry A. Kring                                                    45,200(5)         *
E. John Finn                                                      18,344            *
Robert F. Goldhammer                                              11,094            *
John F. Clearman                                                   5,344            *
Gilbert W. Anderson                                                2,466            *
Edwin I. Colodny                                                   2,344            *
Jerome J. Meyer                                                    1,344            *
Paul G. Schloemer                                                  1,344            *
Malcolm T. Stamper                                                 1,344            *
Directors and executive officers as a group (14 persons)         440,257          6.6%
<FN>
- ------------------------
*    Less than 1%.
(1)  Unless   otherwise  indicated,  the   business  address  of   each  of  the
     stockholders named  in this  table is  Esterline Technologies  Corporation,
     10800 NE 8th Street, Bellevue, Washington 98004.
(2)  Unless  otherwise indicated in the footnotes  to this table, the person and
     entities named in the table have sole voting and sole investment power with
     respect to all  shares beneficially  owned, subject  to community  property
     laws where applicable.
(3)  The  holding shown is based on a  Schedule 13G filed with the Commission on
     or about April 10, 1995 by The Prudential Insurance Company of America,  an
     insurance  company, a registered broker-dealer  and a registered investment
     advisor that disclaims beneficial ownership  of these shares. Based on  the
     information in such filing, shared voting and dispositive power is reported
     with respect to all of the shares.
(4)  The  holding shown is based  on an amended Schedule  13G jointly filed with
     the Commission on or about February 14, 1995, by Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.,
     a holding company, Merrill Lynch Group, Inc., a holding company,  Princeton
     Services,  Inc., a  holding company, Fund  Asset Management,  L.P. a regis-
     tered  investment  advisor,  and  Merrill  Lynch  Phoenix  Fund,  Inc.,   a
     registered  investment company. All  parties to the  joint filing disclaim,
     beneficial ownership  of these  shares. Based  on the  information in  such
     filing  shared voting and dispositive power is reported with respect to all
     of the shares.
(5)  Includes options for shares granted  under the Company's 1987 Stock  Option
     Plan  which are exercisable within 60 days of December 21, 1995 as follows:
     Mr. Cremin, 81,250 shares; Mr.  Hurlbut, 147,500 shares; Mr. Kring,  45,000
     shares;  Mr.  Larson,  62,500  shares, Mr.  Stevenson,  90,000  shares; and
     directors and executive officers as a group, 430,000 shares.
</TABLE>
    

                                       24
<PAGE>
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

GENERAL

    The Company's authorized  capital stock  consists of  30,500,000 shares,  of
which  30,000,000 shares are Common Stock, par value $.20 per share (the "Common
Stock"), of  the Common  Stock 974,500  shares are  reserved for  issuance  upon
exercise of options; 25,000 shares are Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share
(the "Preferred Stock"), issuable in series, 475,000 shares are Serial Preferred
Stock,  par value $1 per share (the  "Serial Preferred Stock"), also issuable in
series. Of  the Serial  Preferred  Stock, 100,000  shares have  been  designated
Series  A Serial Preferred Stock,  par value $1 per  share (the "Series A Serial
Preferred Stock"), and reserved  for issuance pursuant  to the Company's  Rights
Plan  (defined below). The following summary description of the capital stock of
the Company does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety  by
reference  to the Company's  Restated Certificate of  Incorporation, as amended,
the Company's Bylaws, and the Rights Agreement dated as of December 9, 1992,  as
amended,  between the Company and Chemical Bank, as rights agent thereunder, and
to Delaware corporation law.

COMMON STOCK

   
    Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on  all
matters  submitted to a vote  of stockholders and do  not have cumulative voting
rights. The Board  of Directors is  currently comprised of  nine members  having
staggered  terms, one-third of whom are elected at each year's annual meeting to
serve a three-year term. Holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably
such dividends, if  any, as may  be declared by  the Board of  Directors out  of
funds legally available therefor, subject to any preferential dividend rights of
outstanding  Preferred Stock  or Serial  Preferred Stock.  Upon the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of  the Company, the holders  of the Common Stock  are
entitled  to receive ratably the  net assets of the  Company available after the
payment of all debts and  other liabilities and subject  to the prior rights  of
any  outstanding Preferred  Stock or Serial  Preferred Stock.  Holders of Common
Stock have no  preemptive, subscription,  redemption or  conversion rights.  The
shares  of Common Stock outstanding immediately following the completion of this
offering will  be fully  paid  and nonassessable.  The rights,  preferences  and
privileges  of holders  of Common  Stock are  subject to,  and may  be adversely
affected by, the  rights of the  holders of  shares of any  series of  Preferred
Stock  or Serial Preferred Stock that the Company may designate and issue in the
future. As of  October 31,  1995, there were  6,645,780 shares  of Common  Stock
outstanding.  The Common Stock  is currently listed  and traded on  the New York
Stock Exchange.
    

PREFERRED STOCK AND SERIAL PREFERRED STOCK

    The Preferred Stock and  Serial Preferred Stock may  be issued from time  to
time  in one  or more  series with  such designations,  preferences and relative
participating, optional, or other special rights and qualifications, limitations
or restrictions thereof, as  shall be stated in  the resolutions adopted by  the
Board of Directors providing for the issuance of such Preferred Stock and Serial
Preferred  Stock or series  thereof. The Board of  Directors is expressly vested
with authority to fix such designations, preferences and relative participating,
optional or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions
for each series, including, but not by  way of limitation, the power to fix  the
redemption  and liquidating preferences,  the rate of  dividends payable and the
time for and priority of payment thereof and to determine whether such dividends
shall be cumulative or not and to provide for and fix the terms of conversion of
such Preferred Stock or Serial Preferred Stock or any series thereof into Common
Stock of the Company and to fix the voting power, if any, of shares of Preferred
Stock or Serial Preferred Stock or any series thereof at elections of directors,
provided that the voting rights of the Preferred Stock or Serial Preferred Stock
so fixed shall not exceed one (1) vote per share. The issuance of the  Preferred
Stock and Serial Preferred Stock, while providing flexibility in connection with
possible  acquisitions and other  corporate purposes could,  among other things,
adversely affect the rights of the  holders of Common Stock, and, under  certain
circumstances,  make it more difficult for a  third party to gain control of the
Company. In the event that shares  of Preferred Stock or Serial Preferred  Stock
are  issued as convertible securities, convertible  into shares of Common Stock,
the holders of Common Stock may experience dilution. As of the date hereof there
were no  shares  of  Preferred  Stock or  Serial  Preferred  Stock  outstanding.
However,  in connection with the adoption  of the Company's stockholders' Rights
Plan the Company  has designated  and reserved  for issuance,  upon exercise  of
rights  granted to its stockholders, 100,000 shares of Series A Serial Preferred
Stock.

                                       25
<PAGE>
RIGHTS PLAN

    On December  9, 1992,  the Board  of  Directors of  the Company  declared  a
dividend  distribution of one Right for  each outstanding share of the Company's
Common Stock to stockholders of record at the close of business on December  23,
1992 (the "Rights Plan"). Each Right initially entitles the registered holder to
purchase  from  the Company  one one-hundredth  of  a share  of Series  A Serial
Preferred Stock,  par value  $1.00 per  share at  a Purchase  Price of  $56  per
one-one hundreth of a share, subject to adjustment.

    Initially,  the Rights  will be  attached to  all Common  Stock certificates
representing shares then outstanding, and  no separate Rights Certificates  will
be   distributed.  The  Rights  will  separate  from  the  Common  Stock  and  a
Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 days following a  public
announcement  that a  person or  group of  affiliated or  associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") has acquired, or  obtained the right to acquire,  beneficial
ownership  of 10% or more of the  outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock
Acquisition Date"), or (ii) 10  business days (or such  later date as the  Board
shall  determine) following the commencement of  a tender or exchange offer that
would result  in a  person or  group beneficially  owning 10%  or more  of  such
outstanding  shares of Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights
will be evidenced by the Common Stock certificates and will be transferred  with
and only with such Common Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates
issued  after  December 23,  1992 contain  a  notation incorporating  the Rights
Agreement by reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any  certificates
for  Common Stock  outstanding will also  constitute the transfer  of the Rights
associated with the Common  Stock represented by  such certificate. Pursuant  to
the  Rights Agreement, the  Company reserves the  right to require  prior to the
occurrence of a Triggering Event (as  defined below) that, upon any exercise  of
Rights,  a number of Rights  be exercised so that only  whole shares of Series A
Serial Preferred Stock will be issued.

    The Rights are not exercisable until  the Distribution Date and will  expire
at  the close of business  on December 23, 2002,  unless earlier redeemed by the
Company as described below.

    As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates will
be mailed to holders of record of the  Common Stock as of the close of  business
on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights Certificates alone
will  represent  the Rights.  Except  as otherwise  determined  by the  Board of
Directors, only shares  of Common Stock  issued prior to  the Distribution  Date
will be issued with Rights.

    In  the event  that, at  any time following  the Distribution  Date, (i) the
Company is the surviving  corporation in a merger  with an Acquiring Person  and
its  Common  Stock  is not  changed  or  exchanged, (ii)  a  person  becomes the
beneficial owner of more than 15% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock
(except pursuant to an  offer for all outstanding  shares of Common Stock  which
the  independent directors  determine to  be fair to  and otherwise  in the best
interests of  the Company  and  its stockholders  (a  "Fair Offer")),  (iii)  an
Acquiring Person engages in one or more "self-dealing" transactions as set forth
in  the Rights  Agreement, or  (iv) during  such time  as there  is an Acquiring
Person, an  event occurs  which  results in  such Acquiring  Person's  ownership
interest  being increased by  more than 1%  (E.G., a reverse  stock split), each
holder of a  Right will  thereafter have the  right to  receive, upon  exercise,
Common  Stock (or, in certain circumstances,  cash, property or other securities
of the Company)  having a value  equal to two  times the exercise  price of  the
Right.  Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of any of
the events set forth in this paragraph,  all Rights that are, or (under  certain
circumstances  specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by an
Acquiring Person will  be null  and void.  However, Rights  are not  exercisable
following the occurrence of either of the events set forth above until such time
as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below.

    In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i) the
Company  is acquired  in a merger  or other business  combination transaction in
which the  Company  is  not  the surviving  corporation  (other  than  a  merger
described  in the preceding paragraph or a merger which follows a Fair Offer, or
(ii) 50%  or  more  of  the  Company's  assets  or  earning  power  is  sold  or
transferred,  each holder of  a Right (except Rights  which previously have been
voided  as   set   forth   above)   shall   thereafter   have   the   right   to

                                       26
<PAGE>
receive,  upon exercise,  common stock of  the acquiring company  having a value
equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. The events set forth in this
paragraph and in  the preceding  paragraph are  referred to  as the  "Triggering
Events."

    The  Purchase Price  payable, and  the number of  shares of  Series A Serial
Preferred Stock or other securities or  property issuable, upon exercise of  the
Rights  are subject to adjustment  from time to time  to prevent dilution (i) in
the  event  of  a   stock  dividend  on,  or   a  subdivision,  combination   or
reclassification of, the Series A Serial Preferred Stock, (ii) if holders of the
Series  A  Serial Preferred  Stock  are granted  certain  rights or  warrants to
subscribe for Series A Preferred Stock,  or convertible securities at less  than
the  current market price of the Series  A Serial Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon
the distribution to holders of the Series A Serial Preferred Stock of  evidences
of  indebtedness or  assets (excluding regular  quarterly cash  dividends) or of
subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

    With certain  exceptions,  no  adjustment  in the  Purchase  Price  will  be
required  until cumulative  adjustments amount  to at  least 1%  of the Purchase
Price. No fractional shares will be  issued and, in lieu thereof, an  adjustment
in  cash will be made based on the market price of the Series A Serial Preferred
Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.

    At any time until ten days following the Stock Acquisition Date, the Company
may redeem the Rights in whole,  but not in part, at  a price of $.01 per  Right
(payable  in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the
Board of  Directors). After  the redemption  period has  expired, the  Company's
right  of  redemption  may be  reinstated  if  an Acquiring  Person  reduces his
beneficial ownership to less than 10% of the outstanding shares of Common  Stock
in   a  transaction  or  series  of  transactions  not  involving  the  Company.
Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering redemption of the
Rights, the Rights will terminate  and the only right  of the holders of  Rights
will be to receive $.01 redemption price.

    Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights
as  a stockholder  of the Company,  including, without limitation,  the right to
vote or to receive dividends.

    Other than those provisions relating to the principal economic terms of  the
Rights,  any of  the provisions of  the Rights  Agreement may be  amended by the
Board of Directors  of the  Company prior to  the Distribution  Date. After  the
Distribution  Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board in order to  cure any ambiguity,  to make changes  which do not  adversely
affect  the  interests of  holders  of Rights  (excluding  the interests  of any
Acquiring Person), or to  shorten or lengthen any  time period under the  Rights
Agreement;  PROVIDED,  however,  that no  amendment  to adjust  the  time period
governing redemption  shall  be  made  at  such  time  as  the  Rights  are  not
redeemable.

    The  Rights may have certain anti-takeover  effects. The Rights are designed
to cause substantial dilution to any Acquiring Person that attempts to merge  or
consolidate  with, or that takes certain other actions affecting, the Company on
terms not approved by the  Board of Directors of  the Company. The Company  does
not  believe that the  Rights will interfere  with any merger  or other business
combination approved by the Board of  Directors of the Company since the  Rights
may be redeemed by the Company as provided above.

SECTION 203 OF DELAWARE CORPORATION LAW

    The Company is subject to the "business combination" statute of the Delaware
General  Corporation Law  (Section 203).  In general,  such statute  prohibits a
publicly  held  Delaware   corporation  from  engaging   in  various   "business
combination"  transactions  with any  "interested stockholder"  for a  period of
three years after  the date of  the transaction  in which the  person became  an
"interested  stockholder," unless (i) such transaction  is approved by the Board
of Directors prior to the date  the interested stockholder obtains such  status,
(ii)   upon  consummation   of  the   transaction  the   interested  stockholder
beneficially owned  at  least  85%  of  the  voting  stock  of  the  corporation
outstanding  at the  time the transaction  commenced, excluding  for purposes of
determining the number of shares outstanding  those shares owned by (a)  persons
who  are  directors and  also officers  and  (b) employee  stock plans  in which
employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially  whether
shares  held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer,
or (iii) the "business  combination" is approved by  the Board of Directors  and
authorized at an annual

                                       27
<PAGE>
or  special meeting of stockholders by the  affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3%
of  the  outstanding  voting  stock  which  is  not  owned  by  the  "interested
stockholder."  A "business combination" includes  mergers, asset sales and other
transactions resulting in financial benefit  to an "interested stockholder."  An
"interested   stockholder"  is  a  person  who,  together  with  affiliates  and
associates, owns (or within three years, did own) 15% or more of a corporation's
voting stock. The statute could prohibit  or delay mergers or other takeover  or
change  in control  attempts with respect  to the Company  and, accordingly, may
discourage attempts to acquire the Company.

CERTAIN EFFECTS OF AUTHORIZED BUT UNISSUED STOCK

    Under the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended,  upon
the  sale of the Common Stock offered  hereby there will be 21,554,786 shares of
Common Stock  authorized but  unissued  (assuming no  exercise of  options)  and
25,000  shares of Preferred  Stock and 475,000 shares  of Serial Preferred Stock
authorized but  unissued  for  future issuance  without  additional  stockholder
approval.  These additional  shares may be  utilized for a  variety of corporate
purposes,  including  future  offerings  to  raise  additional  capital  or   to
facilitate corporate acquisitions.

    One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved Common Stock,
Preferred  Stock or Serial  Peferred Stock may  be to enable  the Board to issue
shares to  persons  friendly  to  current management  which  could  render  more
difficult  or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of
a merger, tender  offer, proxy  contest or  otherwise, and  thereby protect  the
continuity  of management. Such  additional shares also could  be used to dilute
the stock ownership of persons seeking to obtain control of the Company.

    The issuance of  Preferred Stock or  Serial Preferred Stock  could have  the
effect  of  delaying or  preventing  a change  in  control of  the  Company. The
issuance of Preferred Stock or Serial Preferred Stock could decrease the  amount
of earnings and assets available for distribution to the holders of Common Stock
or  could adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights of the
holders of the Common Stock. In certain circumstances, such issuance could  have
the effect of decreasing the market price of the Common Stock.

    The  Company does not currently have any plans to issue additional shares of
Common Stock Preferred  Stock or  Serial Preferred  Stock other  than shares  of
Common  Stock and associated Series A Serial Preferred Stock which may be issued
upon the exercise of options which have been granted or which may be granted  in
the future to directors, officers, and employees of the Company.

INDEMNIFICATION

    The  Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, contains a provision
that limits the liability  of the Company's directors  for monetary damages  for
breach  of fiduciary duty as  a director to the  fullest extent permitted by the
Delaware  corporation  law.  Such  limitation  does  not,  however,  affect  the
liability of a director unless such director acted in good faith and in a manner
he  reasonably believed  to be in  or not opposed  to the best  interests of the
Company, and,  with  respect  to  any criminal  action  or  proceeding,  had  no
reasonable  cause  to  believe his  conduct  was  unlawful. The  effect  of this
provision is  to  eliminate the  rights  of  the Company  and  its  stockholders
(through  stockholders' derivative  suits on behalf  of the  Company) to recover
monetary damages against a director for breach of the fiduciary duty of care  as
a  director (including  breaches resulting  from negligent  or grossly negligent
behavior) except  in  certain  situations.  This provision  does  not  limit  or
eliminate  the rights  of the  Company or  any stockholder  to seek non-monetary
relief such  as an  injunction or  rescission  in the  event of  a breach  of  a
director's  duty of care. In addition, the directors and officers of the Company
have indemnification and directors and officers liability protection.

REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT

    The registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock is Chemical Bank.

                                       28
<PAGE>
                                  UNDERWRITING

    The U.S. Underwriters named below, acting through PaineWebber  Incorporated,
Ragen   MacKenzie   Incorporated,  and   Pacific   Crest  Securities   Inc.,  as
Representatives (the "Representatives"), have  severally agreed, subject to  the
terms  and conditions set forth  in the Underwriting Agreement  by and among the
Company and  the  U.S.  Underwriters (the  "U.S.  Underwriting  Agreement"),  to
purchase  from  the Company,  and the  Company has  agreed to  sell to  the U.S.
Underwriters, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock set forth  opposite
their names below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         NUMBER OF
U.S. UNDERWRITERS                                                          SHARES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------
<S>                                                                      <C>
PaineWebber Incorporated...............................................
Ragen MacKenzie Incorporated...........................................
Pacific Crest Securities Inc...........................................

                                                                         ----------
  Total................................................................   1,440,000
                                                                         ----------
                                                                         ----------
</TABLE>

    In   addition,  the  International  Underwriters  (together  with  the  U.S.
Underwriters, the "Underwriters"), in a concurrent offering of the Common  Stock
to   persons  other  than  U.S.  Persons  (as  defined  below),  acting  through
PaineWebber International (U.K.) Ltd., Ragen MacKenzie Incorporated, and Pacific
Crest Securities  Inc.,  as International  Representatives  (the  "International
Representatives"),  have severally agreed,  subject to the  terms and conditions
set forth  in  the Underwriting  Agreement  by and  among  the Company  and  the
International  Underwriters  (the  "International  Underwriting  Agreement"), to
purchase  from  the  Company,  and  the  Company  has  agreed  to  sell  to  the
International Underwriters, 360,000 shares of Common Stock.

    The  U.S. Underwriting  Agreement provides that  the obligation  of the U.S.
Underwriters to purchase the shares of  Common Stock listed above is subject  to
certain  conditions. The U.S. Underwriting Agreement also provides that the U.S.
Underwriters are obligated to  purchase, and the Company  is obligated to  sell,
all  the shares  of Common  Stock offered hereby  if any  are purchased (without
consideration of  any shares  that may  be purchased  through the  Underwriters'
over-allotment  option).  The  offering  price  and  underwriting  discounts and
commissions under both  underwriting agreements are  identical. In general,  the
closing  with respect to the sale of the  shares of Common Stock pursuant to the
U.S. Underwriting Agreement is a condition  to closing with respect to the  sale
of  the  shares  of  Common Stock  pursuant  to  the  International Underwriting
Agreement and vice versa. PaineWebber International (U.K.) Ltd. is an  affiliate
of PaineWebber Incorporated.

    The  Representatives  have advised  the Company  that the  U.S. Underwriters
propose to offer the shares of Common Stock to the public at the public offering
price set forth on the cover page  of this Prospectus and to certain dealers  at
such price less a concession not in excess of $      per share and that the U.S.
Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not in excess
of  $      per share  to certain other dealers, including the U.S. Underwriters.
After the shares of Common Stock are released for sale to the public, the public
offering price  and  concessions  and  discounts may  be  changed  by  the  U.S.
Underwriters.

    Each  U.S. Underwriter has agreed  that, as part of  the distribution of the
shares of Common Stock, (a) it is not purchasing any shares of Common Stock  for
the  account of anyone other than a United  States or Canadian Person and (b) it
has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly, any
shares

                                       29
<PAGE>
of Common Stock or distribute this  Prospectus to any person outside the  United
States  or Canada or  to anyone other  than a United  States or Canadian Person.
Each International Underwriter has agreed that,  as part of the distribution  of
the  shares of Common Stock, (a) it is not purchasing any shares of Common Stock
for the account  of any  United States  or Canadian Person  and (b)  it has  not
offered  or sold, and will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly, any shares
of Common Stock or  distribute this Prospectus to  any person within the  United
States  or Canada  or to  any United  States or  Canadian Person.  The foregoing
limitations do  not apply  to  stabilization transactions  or to  certain  other
transactions  specified in  the Agreement  Between (as  defined below).  As used
herein, "United States or Canadian Person" means any individual who is  resident
in  the United States or Canada,  or any corporation, pension, profit-sharing or
other trust or  other entity  organized under  or governed  by the  laws of  the
United  States  or Canada  or any  political subdivision  thereof (other  than a
foreign branch of any United States  or Canadian Person), and shall include  any
United  States or  Canadian branch  of a  person other  than a  United States or
Canadian Person; and "United  States" shall mean the  United States of  America,
its territories, possessions and all areas subject to its jurisdiction.

    Each  U.S. Underwriter  that will  offer or sell  shares of  Common Stock in
Canada as part  of the  distribution has severally  agreed that  such offers  or
sales  will be made only  pursuant to an exemption  from the prospectus delivery
requirements in each jurisdiction in Canada  in which such offers and sales  are
made.

    The  U.S Underwriters  and International  Underwriters have  entered into an
Agreement Between U.S. and International Underwriters (the "Agreement  Between")
that  provides  for  the  coordination  of  their  activities.  Pursuant  to the
Agreement Between,  sales may  be made  between the  U.S. Underwriters  and  the
International  Underwriters of such number  of shares of Common  Stock as may be
mutually agreed upon. The  per share price  of any shares so  sold shall be  the
public  offering price set  forth on the  cover page of  the Prospectus, less an
amount not greater than the  per share amount of  the concession to dealers  set
forth above. To the extent there are sales between the U.S. Underwriters and the
International  Underwriters,  the number  of  shares of  Common  Stock initially
available for sale by the U.S. Underwriters or by the International Underwriters
may be  more or  less  than the  amount  appearing on  the  cover page  of  this
Prospectus.

    The Company has granted to the Underwriters an option, expiring at the close
of  business on the 30th day subsequent  to the effective date of this offering,
to purchase up to an aggregate of  270,000 additional shares of Common Stock  at
the  public offering price set forth on  the cover page of this Prospectus, less
the underwriting discounts and commissions.  The Underwriters may exercise  such
option only to cover over-allotments, if any, incurred in the sale of the shares
of  Common Stock. To the extent that the Underwriters exercise such option, each
Underwriter will  be  obligated,  subject to  certain  conditions,  to  purchase
approximately the same percentage of such additional shares as the percentage it
is  required to purchase of the total number of shares of Common Stock under the
U.S. or International Underwriting Agreement, as the case may be.

    The  Company  has  agreed  to  indemnify  the  U.S.  Underwriters  and   the
International  Underwriters against  certain liabilities,  including liabilities
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments which
the U.S. Underwriters or the International Underwriters may be required to  make
in respect thereof.

    The  Company and an executive  officer have agreed that  they will not sell,
contract to sell  or otherwise  dispose of  any shares  of Common  Stock or  any
rights  to purchase or  acquire shares of Common  Stock for a  period of 90 days
after the effective date of this offering, except for the shares of Common Stock
offered hereby, the issuance of shares by the Company pursuant to employee stock
options and  the  issuance of  shares  or options  by  the Company  pursuant  to
employee  benefit, stock option  and compensation plans  of the Company, without
the prior written consent of the Representatives.

                                 LEGAL MATTERS

    Certain legal matters with respect to the shares of the Common Stock offered
hereby will be passed upon  for the Company by  Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher  &
Flom,  Los Angeles, California.  Certain legal matters  relating to the offering
will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, Los
Angeles, California.

                                       30
<PAGE>
                                    EXPERTS

   
    The consolidated financial statements of the Company as of October 31,  1994
and  1995 for  each of  the three  years in  the period  ended October  31, 1995
included  in  this  Prospectus,   and  related  financial  statement   schedules
incorporated  herein by reference,  have been audited by  Deloitte & Touche LLP,
independent auditors,  as  stated in  their  reports appearing  herein,  and  by
reference,  and  have been  so incorporated  and included  in reliance  upon the
reports of such  firm given upon  their authority as  experts in accounting  and
auditing.
    

                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION

    The  Company is subject to the  informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act  of 1934,  as  amended (the  "Exchange  Act"), and,  in  accordance
therewith,  files  reports,  proxy  statements and  other  information  with the
Securities and  Exchange  Commission  (the "Commission").  Such  reports,  proxy
statements  and  other information  filed by  the Company  may be  inspected and
copied at the Commission's regional offices at 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor,
New York, New  York 10048 and  Citicorp Center, 500  West Madison Street,  Suite
1400,  Chicago, Illinois 60661, and inspected and  copied or obtained by mail at
prescribed  rates  from  the  public  reference  facilities  maintained  by  the
Commission  at  its  principal  offices:  450  Fifth  Street,  N.W.,  Room 1024,
Washington, D.C. 20549.

    The Company's Common  Stock is listed  on the New  York Stock Exchange.  The
Company's  reports, proxy statements and other  information can be inspected and
copied at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York,
New York 10005.

    The Company has filed with the  Commission a registration statement on  Form
S-3  under the Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended, with  respect to the Common
Stock described in  this Prospectus. This  Prospectus does not  contain all  the
information  set forth in the registration  statement and exhibits and schedules
thereto. For further  information with  respect to  the Company  and the  Common
Stock,  reference is  made to  the registration  statement and  the exhibits and
schedules filed as part thereof. Statements  contained in this Prospectus as  to
the  contents  of  any  contract  or any  other  document  referred  to  are not
necessarily complete, and, in  each instance, reference is  made to the copy  of
such  contract or  document filed as  an exhibit to  the registration statement,
each such  statement  being qualified  in  all  respects by  reference  to  such
exhibit.  The registration statement, including  exhibits and schedules thereto,
may be inspected  without charge or  copied in  whole or in  part at  prescribed
rates at the Commission's principal offices set forth above.

                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

    The following documents, heretofore filed by the Company with the Commission
pursuant  to the Exchange  Act, are hereby incorporated  by reference, except as
superseded or modified herein:

   
    1.  The Description of the Company's Common Stock which is contained in  the
       Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated May 22, 1970.
    

   
    2.   The  Company's Annual  Report on  Form 10-K  for the  fiscal year ended
       October 31, 1995.
    

    Each document filed subsequent  to the date of  this prospectus pursuant  to
Section  13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of  the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prior
to the  termination  of the  offering  shall be  deemed  to be  incorporated  by
reference  in this Prospectus and  shall be part hereof  from the date of filing
such document.

   
    The Company will provide a copy  of the documents incorporated by  reference
herein  (other than exhibits  to such documents) without  charge to each person,
including any  beneficial owner,  to  whom this  Prospectus is  delivered,  upon
written  or  oral  request by  such  person.  Requests should  be  addressed to:
Esterline Technologies Corporation,  10800 NE 8th  Street, Bellevue,  Washington
98004,  Attention:  Director, Corporate  Communications (telephone  number (206)
453-9400).
    

                                       31
<PAGE>
                         INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  PAGE
                                                                                  ----
<S>                                                                               <C>
Independent Auditors' Report....................................................  F-2
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended October 31, 1993, 1994
 and 1995.......................................................................  F-3
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 31, 1994 and 1995.....................  F-4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended October 31, 1993, 1994
 and 1995.......................................................................  F-5
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years ended October 31,
 1993, 1994 and 1995............................................................  F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements......................................  F-7
</TABLE>
    

                                      F-1
<PAGE>
                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors
Esterline Technologies Corporation
Bellevue, Washington

   
    We  have audited the  accompanying consolidated balance  sheets of Esterline
Technologies Corporation and its subsidiaries as  of October 31, 1995 and  1994,
and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and
cash  flows for each  of the three years  in the period  ended October 31, 1995.
These financial statements are the  responsibility of the Company's  management.
Our  responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based
on our audits.
    

    We conducted  our  audits in  accordance  with generally  accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence  supporting
the  amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles used  and  significant estimates  made  by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

   
    In our opinion,  such consolidated financial  statements present fairly,  in
all   material  respects,  the  financial  position  of  Esterline  Technologies
Corporation and  its subsidiaries  as of  October  31, 1995  and 1994,  and  the
results  of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in
the period  ended  October  31,  1995  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles.
    

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

   
Seattle, Washington
December 11, 1995
    

                                      F-2
<PAGE>
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                                                              ----------------------------
                                                                1993      1994      1995
                                                              --------  --------  --------
                                                              (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                                                           <C>       <C>       <C>
Net Sales...................................................  $285,152  $294,044  $351,897
                                                              --------  --------  --------
Costs and Expenses
  Cost of sales.............................................   175,568   178,397   210,834
  Selling, general and administrative.......................   100,669   100,845   112,213
  Restructuring provision (credit)..........................    40,626     --       (2,067)
  Interest income...........................................      (122)     (113)   (1,156)
  Interest expense..........................................     6,446     6,098     5,598
                                                              --------  --------  --------
                                                               323,187   285,227   325,422
                                                              --------  --------  --------
Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes.........................   (38,035)    8,817    26,475
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)................................   (12,400)    1,254     9,094
                                                              --------  --------  --------
Net Earnings (Loss).........................................  $(25,635) $  7,563  $ 17,381
                                                              --------  --------  --------
                                                              --------  --------  --------
Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share...............................  $  (3.90) $   1.15  $   2.53
                                                              --------  --------  --------
                                                              --------  --------  --------
</TABLE>
    

                 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                      F-3
<PAGE>
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                     ASSETS

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           OCTOBER 31,
                                                                        ------------------
                                                                          1994      1995
                                                                        --------  --------
                                                                          (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                     <C>       <C>
Current Assets
  Cash and equivalents................................................  $ 9,076   $ 22,097
  Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $2,201 and $4,117 for
   doubtful accounts..................................................   63,685     63,825
  Inventories.........................................................   31,673     39,963
  Deferred income taxes...............................................   13,002     14,122
  Prepaid expenses....................................................    1,876      2,199
                                                                        --------  --------
    Total Current Assets..............................................  119,312    142,206
Property, Plant and Equipment
  Land................................................................    3,901      3,913
  Buildings...........................................................   43,137     43,669
  Machinery and equipment.............................................   98,635     99,076
                                                                        --------  --------
                                                                        145,673    146,658
  Accumulated depreciation............................................   94,070     97,426
                                                                        --------  --------
                                                                         51,603     49,232
Intangibles, net and Other Assets.....................................   46,609     34,276
                                                                        --------  --------
    Total Assets......................................................  $217,524  $225,714
                                                                        --------  --------
                                                                        --------  --------

                           LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities
  Accounts payable....................................................  $18,927   $ 23,143
  Accrued liabilities.................................................   69,426     66,363
  Credit facilities...................................................       58      7,721
  Current maturities of long-term debt................................   20,588      7,030
  Federal and foreign income taxes....................................    1,320      2,208
                                                                        --------  --------
    Total Current Liabilities.........................................  110,319    106,465
Long-Term Debt, net of current maturities.............................   41,714     35,543
Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 7 and 8)
Shareholders' Equity
  Common stock, par value $.20 per share, authorized 30,000,000 shares
   issued and outstanding 6,513,057 and 6,645,780 shares..............    1,302      1,328
  Capital in excess of par value......................................   10,482     10,390
  Retained earnings...................................................   54,951     72,332
  Cumulative translation adjustment...................................   (1,244 )     (344)
                                                                        --------  --------
    Total Shareholders' Equity........................................   65,491     83,706
                                                                        --------  --------
    Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity........................  $217,524  $225,714
                                                                        --------  --------
                                                                        --------  --------
</TABLE>
    

                 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                      F-4
<PAGE>
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                                                              ----------------------------
                                                                1993      1994      1995
                                                              --------  --------  --------
                                                                     (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>       <C>       <C>
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED (USED) BY OPERATING
 ACTIVITIES
  Net earnings (loss).......................................  $(25,635) $  7,563  $ 17,381
  Restructuring provision (credit)..........................    40,626     --       (2,067)
  Depreciation and amortization.............................    19,259    16,414    16,599
  Deferred income taxes.....................................   (16,558)   (1,303)   (2,969)
  Working capital changes
    Accounts receivable.....................................     1,779   (15,625)      280
    Inventories.............................................     1,250     7,590    (9,496)
    Prepaid expenses........................................      (202)       38      (176)
    Accounts payable........................................    (1,959)    3,564     4,121
    Accrued liabilities.....................................     2,040     6,910     7,196
    Federal and foreign income taxes........................    (1,750)      144       897
  Other, net................................................    (1,994)       92       882
                                                              --------  --------  --------
                                                                16,856    25,387    32,648
                                                              --------  --------  --------
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED (USED) BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES
  Capital expenditures......................................    (9,566)  (11,288)  (11,461)
  Capital dispositions......................................     --        3,945     3,773
                                                              --------  --------  --------
                                                                (9,566)   (7,343)   (7,688)
                                                              --------  --------  --------
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED (USED) BY FINANCING
 ACTIVITIES
  Net change in credit facilities...........................     2,462    (5,218)    7,483
  Repayment of long-term debt...............................    (9,382)   (7,290)  (19,837)
                                                              --------  --------  --------
                                                                (6,920)  (12,508)  (12,354)
                                                              --------  --------  --------
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATES....................................      (269)      322       415
                                                              --------  --------  --------
Net Increase in Cash and Equivalents........................       101     5,858    13,021
Cash and Equivalents -- Beginning of Year...................     3,117     3,218     9,076
                                                              --------  --------  --------
Cash and Equivalents -- End of Year.........................  $  3,218  $  9,076  $ 22,097
                                                              --------  --------  --------
                                                              --------  --------  --------
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
  Cash paid during the year for.............................
    Interest expense........................................  $  6,271  $  6,033  $  4,577
    Income taxes............................................     2,264     2,212    10,452
</TABLE>
    

                 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                      F-5
<PAGE>
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                                                              --------------------------
                                                                1993     1994     1995
                                                              --------  -------  -------
                                                                    (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>       <C>      <C>
Common Stock, par value $.20 per share
  Beginning of year.........................................  $  1,301  $ 1,302  $ 1,302
  Stock issued under stock option plans.....................         1    --          26
                                                              --------  -------  -------
  End of year...............................................     1,302    1,302    1,328
                                                              --------  -------  -------
Capital in Excess of Par Value
  Beginning of year.........................................    10,480   10,482   10,482
  Stock issued under stock option plans.....................         2    --         (92)
                                                              --------  -------  -------
  End of year...............................................    10,482   10,482   10,390
                                                              --------  -------  -------
Retained Earnings
  Beginning of year.........................................    73,023   47,388   54,951
  Net earnings (loss).......................................   (25,635)   7,563   17,381
                                                              --------  -------  -------
  End of year...............................................    47,388   54,951   72,332
                                                              --------  -------  -------
Cumulative Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment
  Beginning of year.........................................    (2,182)  (3,849)  (1,244)
  Aggregate adjustment resulting from foreign currency
   translation..............................................    (1,667)   2,605      900
                                                              --------  -------  -------
  End of year...............................................    (3,849)  (1,244)    (344)
                                                              --------  -------  -------
Shareholders' Equity........................................  $ 55,323  $65,491  $83,706
                                                              --------  -------  -------
                                                              --------  -------  -------
</TABLE>
    

                 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                      F-6
<PAGE>
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   
1.  ACCOUNTING POLICIES
    
   
    BASIS  OF PRESENTATION:   The consolidated financial  statements include the
accounts  of  Esterline  Technologies  Corporation  and  its  subsidiaries.  All
significant   intercompany  accounts  and  transactions  have  been  eliminated.
Classifications have been changed for certain amounts in the preceding period to
conform with the current year's financial presentation.
    

    FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION:  Foreign  currency assets and liabilities  are
translated  into their U.S. dollar equivalents based on year-end exchange rates.
Revenue and expense accounts are generally translated at average exchange rates.
Aggregate exchange  gains and  losses arising  from the  translation of  foreign
assets  and liabilities are included  in shareholders' equity. Transaction gains
and losses are included in income and have not been significant in amount.

    INVENTORIES:  Most inventories  are stated at the  lower of cost (first  in,
first  out) or market. Two subsidiaries state  their inventories at the lower of
cost (last in, first out) or market. Inventory cost includes material, labor and
factory overhead.

   
    RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED ENGINEERING COSTS:  Research,  development
and   related  engineering  costs   approximated  $14,007,000,  $13,711,000  and
$16,638,000 in 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively, and are expensed as incurred.
    

    PROPERTY, PLANT  AND  EQUIPMENT  AND  DEPRECIATION:    Property,  plant  and
equipment  is carried at  cost and includes  expenditures for major improvements
which  increase  useful  lives.  Depreciation  is  provided  generally  on   the
straight-line  method. For income  tax purposes, depreciation  is computed using
various accelerated methods.

   
    INTANGIBLE  ASSETS:    Intangible  assets  arise  primarily  from   business
acquisitions  and include  intangibles and the  cost of  purchased businesses in
excess of amounts assigned to tangible and intangible assets. Intangible  assets
are being amortized over estimated lines which range from 30 to 40 years.
    

    ASSET  VALUATION:    The carrying  amount  of long-life  assets  is reviewed
periodically. If the  asset carrying  amount is  not recoverable,  the asset  is
considered to be impaired and the value is adjusted.

   
    MANAGEMENT ESTIMATES:  The preparation of financial statements in conformity
with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to make
estimates and  assumptions  that  affect  the reported  amounts  of  assets  and
liabilities  and disclosure of contingent assets  and liabilities at the date of
the financial  statements and  the  reported amounts  of revenues  and  expenses
during the reporting period.
    

    ENVIRONMENTAL:   Environmental  exposures are provided  for in  total at the
time they are known to exist or are considered reasonably probable.

   
    EARNINGS PER  SHARE:   Earnings per  share are  computed using  the  average
number  of  common and  common equivalent  shares  outstanding during  each year
(6,579,000 shares in  1993, 6,571,000  shares in  1994 and  6,870,000 shares  in
1995).
    

    CASH  EQUIVALENTS:    Investments  maturing  in  three  months  or  less are
classified as cash equivalents.

   
    FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:  The Company's financial instruments include cash and
equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable, for which the fair  value
approximates  carrying value, and credit facilities and long-term debt. The fair
values of credit facilities and long-term debt (see Note 4) were estimated using
interest rates that are currently available to the Company for issuance of  debt
with similar terms and remaining maturities.
    

    CONCENTRATIONS  OF CREDIT RISK:  Concentrations  of credit risk with respect
to accounts receivable  are generally  diversified due  to the  large number  of
entities comprising the Company's customer base and their dispersion across many
different  industries  and  geographies.  The  Company  performs  ongoing credit
evaluations of its customers' financial condition and, in certain circumstances,
utilizes letters of credit and bank guarantees to minimize credit risk.

                                      F-7
<PAGE>
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

   
2.  INVENTORIES
    
    Inventories consisted of the following:

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   OCTOBER 31,
                                                              ----------------------
                                                                 1994        1995
                                                              -----------  ---------
                                                                  (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>
Raw materials and purchased parts...........................   $   8,770   $  11,422
Work in process.............................................      16,887      22,052
Finished goods..............................................       6,016       6,489
                                                              -----------  ---------
                                                               $  31,673   $  39,963
                                                              -----------  ---------
                                                              -----------  ---------
</TABLE>
    

   
    At October 31, 1994 and  1995, $8,500,000 and $10,000,000, respectively,  of
the  Company's  total  inventories were  stated  under  the last  in,  first out
inventory  method.  Had  the  first  in,  first  out  method  been  used,  these
inventories  would have been  $3,386,000 and $3,896,000  higher than reported at
October 31, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
    

   
3.  ACCRUED LIABILITIES
    
    Accrued liabilities consisted of the following:

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                OCTOBER 31,
                                                            --------------------
                                                              1994       1995
                                                            ---------  ---------
                                                               (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                         <C>        <C>
Payroll and other compensation............................  $  18,905  $  19,971
Self-insurance provisions.................................      7,886      7,151
Interest..................................................      2,770      2,453
Warranties................................................      3,495     10,202
State and other tax accruals..............................      7,048      6,912
Accrued restructuring cost................................     13,698     --
Other.....................................................     15,624     19,674
                                                            ---------  ---------
                                                            $  69,426  $  66,363
                                                            ---------  ---------
                                                            ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
    

   
4.  DEBT
    
    Long-term debt consisted of the following:

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               OCTOBER 31,
                                                          ----------------------
                                                             1994        1995
                                                          -----------  ---------
                                                              (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                       <C>          <C>
8.75% senior notes, due 2002............................   $  40,000   $  40,000
8.25% convertible subordinated debentures, due 1995.....      20,000      --
Other...................................................       2,302       2,573
                                                          -----------  ---------
                                                              62,302      42,573
    Less current maturities.............................      20,588       7,030
                                                          -----------  ---------
                                                           $  41,714   $  35,543
                                                          -----------  ---------
                                                          -----------  ---------
</TABLE>
    

    The  8.75%  senior  notes  are   unsecured  and  payable  in  equal   annual
installments  beginning  in fiscal  1996. Interest  is payable  semi-annually in
January and July of each year.

   
    The 8.25%  convertible debentures  were  issued by  Esterline  International
Finance N.V., a subsidiary of the Company, and were retired in 1995.
    

                                      F-8
<PAGE>
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

   
4.  DEBT (CONTINUED)
    
   
    The  Company has  a $35,000,000  unsecured line  of credit  with a  group of
banks. Alternative interest  rates are  available based  on LIBOR,  or the  lead
bank's prime rate, at the Company's option. At October 31, 1995, and October 31,
1994, there were no amounts borrowed under the line of credit.
    

   
    The  unsecured  line  of  credit  contains  various  restrictions, including
maintenance  of  net  worth,  payment  of  dividends,  interest  coverage,   and
limitations on additional borrowings.
    

   
    The  fair  value  of the  Company's  notes  payable and  long-term  debt was
estimated  at  $61,088,000  and  $41,587,000  at  October  31,  1994  and  1995,
respectively.
    

    Maturities of long-term debt are as follows:

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                 <C>
1996..............................................       7,030
1997..............................................       6,444
1998..............................................       6,161
1999..............................................       5,786
2000..............................................       5,722
2001 and thereafter...............................      11,430
                                                       -------
                                                       $42,573
                                                       -------
                                                       -------
</TABLE>
    

    The Company had lines of credit with domestic and foreign banks as follows:

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              OCTOBER 31,
                                                                          --------------------
                                                                            1994       1995
                                                                          ---------  ---------
                                                                             (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                       <C>        <C>
Outstanding Balance
  Domestic..............................................................  $  --      $  --
  Foreign...............................................................         58      7,721
                                                                          ---------  ---------
                                                                          $      58  $   7,721
                                                                          ---------  ---------
                                                                          ---------  ---------
Credit Lines
  Domestic..............................................................  $  35,000  $  35,000
  Foreign...............................................................     10,000     10,000
Average Borrowings During the Year
  Domestic..............................................................        500     --
  Foreign...............................................................      4,500      6,000
Average Interest Rates During the Year
  Domestic..............................................................        6.8%    --
  Foreign...............................................................        7.5%       7.7%
</TABLE>
    

   
    Letters  of credit are considered borrowed funds under the Company's line of
credit. Borrowing capacity under the credit line shown above was reduced by  the
outstanding letters of credit of approximately $7,093,000 at October 31, 1995.
    

   
5.  RETIREMENT BENEFITS
    
    Pension  benefits are  provided for  substantially all  U.S. employees under
contributory and  non-contributory pension  and other  plans, and  are based  on
years   of  service  and  five-year  average  compensation.  The  Company  makes
actuarially computed contributions as necessary to adequately fund benefits. The
actuarial  computations  assumed  discount  rates  on  benefit  obligations  and
expected   long-term  rates  of  return  on  plan  assets  of  7.5%  and  annual
compensation increases of 5%. Investments of the plans primarily consist of U.S.
Government  obligations,  publicly  traded  common  stocks,  mutual  funds   and
insurance contracts.

                                      F-9
<PAGE>
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

   
5.  RETIREMENT BENEFITS (CONTINUED)
    
    Pension expense consisted of the following:

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                                                              ---------------------------------
                                                                 1993       1994        1995
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------
                                                                       (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>        <C>
Service cost-benefits earned during the year................  $    2,106  $   2,322       2,316
Interest cost on projected benefit obligations..............       4,248      4,457       4,698
Actual return on plan assets-investment gains...............     (10,467)    (2,827)    (13,189)
Net amortization and deferral...............................       4,487     (3,515)      7,292
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------
Net pension expense.........................................  $      374  $     437  $    1,117
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------
</TABLE>
    

    Combined funded status of the plans was as follows:

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              OCTOBER 31,
                                                                          --------------------
                                                                            1994       1995
                                                                          ---------  ---------
                                                                             (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                       <C>        <C>
Plan assets at fair market value........................................  $  75,457  $  83,815
Projected benefit obligations for service rendered to date..............     60,836     62,223
                                                                          ---------  ---------
Plan assets in excess of projected benefit obligations..................     14,621     21,592
Unrecognized net (gain) loss............................................        552     (7,514)
Unrecognized net asset at November 1, 1985..............................     (2,887)    (2,406)
                                                                          ---------  ---------
Prepaid pension expense, included in other assets.......................  $  12,286  $  11,672
                                                                          ---------  ---------
                                                                          ---------  ---------
Actuarial present value of accumulated benefit obligations, including
 vested benefits of $51,489 and $51,716.................................  $  52,602  $  51,978
                                                                          ---------  ---------
                                                                          ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
    

   
    The  Company has a supplemental retirement plan for key executives providing
for periodic payments upon retirement.  The long-term liability under this  plan
was $1,549,000 and $2,046,000 as of October 31, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
    

    Provision for all retirement benefits consisted of the following:

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                                                                     -------------------------------
                                                                       1993       1994       1995
                                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                             (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                  <C>        <C>        <C>
Pension plans......................................................  $     464  $   1,232  $   2,016
Profit-sharing and other plans.....................................         72     --         --
                                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                     $     536  $   1,232  $   2,016
                                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
    

   
6.  INCOME TAXES
    
   
    During 1993, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No.  109, "Accounting for Income Taxes." The cumulative effect of the change was
not material.
    

    During 1994,  the  Internal  Revenue Service  completed  an  examination  of
certain  federal income  tax returns and  reached agreement with  the Company on
various filing positions.  As a result,  the Company recorded  a $2 million  tax
benefit in the fourth quarter of 1994.

                                      F-10
<PAGE>
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

   
6.  INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
    
    Income tax expense (benefit) consisted of the following:

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                                                              --------------------------------
                                                                 1993       1994       1995
                                                              ----------  ---------  ---------
                                                                       (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>        <C>
Current tax expense.........................................  $    1,695  $   2,557  $  12,063
Deferred tax expense........................................     (14,095)    (1,303)    (2,969)
                                                              ----------  ---------  ---------
                                                              $  (12,400) $   1,254  $   9,094
                                                              ----------  ---------  ---------
                                                              ----------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
    

    Primary  components of the  Company's deferred tax  assets and (liabilities)
resulted from temporary tax differences associated with the following:

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           YEAR ENDED OCTOBER
                                                                                  31,
                                                                          --------------------
                                                                            1994       1995
                                                                          ---------  ---------
                                                                             (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                       <C>        <C>
Reserves and liabilities................................................  $  10,660  $  15,797
Employee benefits.......................................................      5,357      4,039
Tax credits.............................................................        751     --
Foreign tax loss carryforward...........................................     --          1,627
Restructuring accruals..................................................      4,863     --
                                                                          ---------  ---------
  Total deferred tax assets.............................................     21,631     21,463
                                                                          ---------  ---------
Depreciation and amortization...........................................     (4,110)    (1,412)
Retirement benefits.....................................................     (3,856)    (3,417)
                                                                          ---------  ---------
  Total deferred tax liabilities........................................     (7,966)    (4,829)
                                                                          ---------  ---------
                                                                          $  13,665  $  16,634
                                                                          ---------  ---------
                                                                          ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
    

    A  valuation  allowance  was  not  required   due  to  the  nature  of   and
circumstances associated with the temporary tax differences.

    A  reconciliation of the United States  federal statutory income tax rate to
the effective income tax rate was as follows:

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               1993    1994    1995
                                                               -----   -----   ----
<S>                                                            <C>     <C>     <C>
U.S. statutory income tax rate..............................   (34.0)%  34.0%  35.0%
State income taxes..........................................    (1.1)    6.6    3.5
Foreign tax rates...........................................      .7     2.5   (1.5)
Foreign sales corporation...................................     (.8)   (3.5)  (1.7)
Tax settlement..............................................    --     (22.7)   --
Other, net..................................................     2.6    (2.7)  (1.0)
                                                               -----   -----   ----
Effective income tax rate...................................   (32.6)%  14.2%  34.3%
                                                               -----   -----   ----
                                                               -----   -----   ----
</TABLE>
    

   
    No provision for federal income taxes has been made on accumulated  earnings
of  foreign  subsidiaries,  since  such earnings  have  either  been permanently
reinvested or would be substantially offset by foreign tax credits.
    

   
7.  CONTINGENCIES
    
   
    In October 1995, the Company identified irregularities in the allocation  of
certain  labor charges at Armtec, and promptly disclosed these irregularities to
the Department of Defense.  Armtec applied for admittance  to the Department  of
Defense   Voluntary   Disclosure  Program   but   has  not   yet   been  advised
    

                                      F-11
<PAGE>
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

   
7.  CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)
    
   
regarding its admittance to the Program. The outside attorneys and  governmental
contracting  consultant  that were  retained by  the Company  to assist  in this
matter are  continuing  their  internal  investigation. At  this  stage  of  the
investigation,  management believes that the eventual outcome of this issue will
not have a material adverse effect on the financial position or future operating
results of the Company.
    

   
    The Company has various lawsuits  and claims, both offensive and  defensive,
and contingent liabilities arising from the conduct of business, including those
associated with government contracting activities, none of which, in the opinion
of  management, is expected to have a material effect on the Company's financial
position  or  results   of  operations.  Liabilities   have  been  accrued   for
environmental  remediation costs expected  to be incurred  in the disposition of
manufacturing facilities.  No  provision  has been  recorded  for  environmental
remediation costs which could result from changes in laws or other circumstances
currently not contemplated by the Company.
    

   
8.  OPERATING LEASES
    
   
    Net   rental  expense   for  operating  leases   amounted  to  approximately
$3,241,000, $3,170,000 and $3,103,000 in 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
    

    The Company's rental commitments for  noncancelable operating leases with  a
duration in excess of one year are as follows:

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>
1996........................................................  $       2,739
1997........................................................          2,413
1998........................................................          2,375
1999........................................................          2,118
2000........................................................          1,926
2001 and thereafter.........................................          1,449
                                                                    -------
                                                              $      13,020
                                                                    -------
                                                                    -------
</TABLE>
    

   
9.  STOCK OPTION PLANS
    
   
    At October 31, 1995, the Company had 973,250 shares of common stock reserved
for  issuance to  officers, directors and  key employees under  its stock option
plans, of which 218,625 shares were available for future grant. Options  granted
under  the plans are exercisable over a  period of four years following the date
of grant and  expire not  later than  the tenth  anniversary of  the grant.  The
option  exercise prices  are equal  to the  fair market  value of  the Company's
common stock on the date of grant.
    

                                      F-12
<PAGE>
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

   
9.  STOCK OPTION PLANS (CONTINUED)
    
    The following summarizes  the changes in  outstanding options granted  under
the Company's stock option plans:

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               OPTION PRICES
                                                                     SHARES      PER SHARE
                                                                   ----------  --------------
<S>                                                                <C>         <C>
Balance -- October 31, 1992......................................     911,625  $   8.00-11.25
    Granted......................................................     117,500      7.63- 9.38
    Canceled.....................................................     (25,625)     8.00-11.25
    Exercised....................................................     (25,000)           8.00
                                                                   ----------  --------------
Balance -- October 31, 1993......................................     978,500      7.63-11.25
    Granted......................................................     119,000      7.38- 9.88
    Canceled.....................................................     (54,000)     7.38-11.25
    Exercised....................................................      (5,000)           9.00
                                                                   ----------  --------------
Balance -- October 31, 1994......................................   1,038,500      7.38-11.25
    Granted......................................................     105,000     12.88-17.75
    Cancelled....................................................      (7,500)     7.38-11.25
    Exercised....................................................    (381,375)     7.38- 9.50
                                                                   ----------  --------------
Balance -- October 31, 1995......................................     754,625  $   7.38-17.75
                                                                   ----------  --------------
                                                                   ----------  --------------
Exercisable at October 31, 1995..................................     470,375  $   7.38-11.25
                                                                   ----------  --------------
                                                                   ----------  --------------
</TABLE>
    

   
10. CAPITAL STOCK
    

   
    The  authorized capital stock  of the Company consists  of 500,000 shares of
preferred stock, including  25,000 shares  ($100 par value)  and 475,000  shares
($1.00  par value)  issuable in  series, and  30,000,000 shares  of common stock
($.20 par value). At October 31, 1995,  there were no shares of preferred  stock
outstanding, 973,250 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the
Company's stock option plans.
    

    On  December 9,  1992, the Board  of Directors adopted  a Stockholder Rights
Plan providing for the  distribution of one Preferred  Stock Purchase Right  for
each  share of common stock  held on December 23,  1992. Each Right entitles the
holder to purchase  one-one hundredth of  a share of  Series A Serial  Preferred
Stock at an exercise price of $56. The Rights expire December 23, 2002.

    The Rights will be exercisable and transferrable apart from the common stock
only  if a person or  group acquires beneficial ownership of  10% or more of the
Company's common stock or commences a tender offer or exchange offer which would
result in a person  or group beneficially  owning 10% or  more of the  Company's
common  stock. The Rights will be redeemable by the Company for $.01 each at any
time prior  to the  tenth  day after  an announcement  that  a person  or  group
beneficially owns 10% or more of the common stock.

    Upon  the occurrence of certain events, the  holder of a Right can purchase,
for the then current exercise price of the Right, shares of common stock of  the
Company  (or  under  certain  circumstances,  as  determined  by  the  Board  of
Directors, cash,  other securities  or property)  having a  value of  twice  the
Right's  exercise price. Upon the occurrence of certain other events, the holder
of each Right would be entitled to purchase, at the exercise price of the Right,
shares of common stock of a corporation or other entity acquiring the Company or
engaging in certain transactions involving the Company, that has a market  value
of twice the Right's exercise price.

   
11. RESTRUCTURING PROVISION
    
   
    In  the  fourth  quarter  of  1993, the  Company  recorded  a  $40.6 million
restructuring charge  ($27.2  million  net  of  income  tax  effect),  based  on
management's   estimate  of  the  effects   of  the  contemplated  actions.  The
    

                                      F-13
<PAGE>
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

   
11. RESTRUCTURING PROVISION (CONTINUED)
    
   
provision provided for sale  or shutdown of  certain small operating  companies,
employees'  severance, write-off of intangible assets, anticipated losses on the
sale of vacant facilities and product lines and consolidation of facilities  and
product  lines for increased  efficiency. The charges  reduced 1993 earnings per
share by $4.14.
    

   
    During the third  quarter of  fiscal 1995,  several remaining  restructuring
actions  were completed. The restructuring plan was comprehensively reviewed and
the total restructuring costs  were lowered to $38.5  million. As a result,  the
Company  took a restructuring credit in the third quarter of fiscal 1995 of $2.1
million ($1.4 million, or $.20 per  share, net of income tax), or  approximately
5%  of the original charge. The Company believes the restructuring action is now
substantially complete.
    

                                      F-14
<PAGE>
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

   
12. BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION
    
    Details of the Company's operations by business segment for the years  ended
October 31 were as follows:

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        1993        1994        1995
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                                                  <C>         <C>         <C>
                                                                               (IN THOUSANDS)
Net Sales
  Automation.......................................................  $   94,460  $  108,642  $  156,116
  Aerospace and Defense............................................      99,071      93,370      98,027
  Instrumentation..................................................      91,621      92,032      97,754
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                        285,152  $  294,044  $  351,897
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes
  Automation.......................................................  $    7,887  $   11,913  $   24,215
  Aerospace and Defense............................................       7,259       9,809       6,493
  Instrumentation..................................................         935       1,537       6,627
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
    Operating Earnings.............................................      16,081      23,259      37,335
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
  Corporate expense................................................      (7,166)     (8,457)     (8,485)
  Restructuring (provision) credit.................................     (40,626)     --           2,067
  Interest income..................................................         122         113       1,156
  Interest expense.................................................      (6,446)     (6,098)     (5,598)
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                     $  (38,035) $    8,817  $   26,475
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
Identifiable Assets
  Automation.......................................................  $   41,752  $   49,540  $   57,849
  Aerospace and Defense............................................      77,419      76,681      68,785
  Instrumentation..................................................      55,744      49,822      45,412
  Corporate (1)....................................................      30,757      41,481      53,668
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                     $  205,672  $  217,524  $  225,714
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
Capital Expenditures
  Automation.......................................................  $    2,402  $    4,214  $    5,848
  Aerospace and Defense............................................       4,125       3,158       2,750
  Instrumentation..................................................       2,935       3,847       2,833
  Corporate........................................................          94          69          30
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                     $    9,556  $   11,288  $   11,461
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
Depreciation and Amortization
  Automation.......................................................  $    3,982  $    3,546  $    4,388
  Aerospace and Defense............................................       7,829       6,128       6,002
  Instrumentation..................................................       7,158       6,257       5,754
  Corporate........................................................         290         483         455
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                     $   19,259  $   16,414  $   16,599
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
<FN>
- ------------------------
(1)  Primarily  cash, net deferred tax assets  (See Note 6), and prepaid pension
     expense (See Note 5).
</TABLE>
    

                                      F-15
<PAGE>
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

   
12. BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
    
   
    The  Company's  principal  foreign   operations  consist  of   manufacturing
facilities  located in  France, Spain, Mexico  and Italy, and  include sales and
service operations located in England, Germany, Japan and France.
    

    Details of the Company's operations by  geographic area for the years  ended
October 31 were as follows:

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1993      1994      1995
                                                              --------  --------  --------
                                                                     (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>       <C>       <C>
SALES
  Domestic
    Unaffiliated customers -- U.S...........................  $195,808  $203,010  $227,810
    Unaffiliated customers -- export........................    33,163    34,248    61,051
    Intercompany............................................     4,163     6,231    11,132
                                                              --------  --------  --------
                                                              $233,134  $243,489  $299,993
                                                              --------  --------  --------
  Foreign
    Unaffiliated customers..................................  $ 56,181  $ 56,786  $ 63,036
    Intercompany............................................        29       628     1,073
                                                              --------  --------  --------
                                                              $ 56,210  $ 57,414  $ 64,109
                                                              --------  --------  --------
    Eliminations............................................  $ (4,192) $ (6,859) $(12,205)
                                                              --------  --------  --------
  Net Sales.................................................  $285,152  $294,044  $351,897
                                                              --------  --------  --------
                                                              --------  --------  --------
OPERATING EARNINGS (1)
  Domestic..................................................  $ 13,042  $ 20,449  $ 38,238
  Foreign...................................................     2,833     2,994       (80)
  Eliminations..............................................       206      (184)     (823)
                                                              --------  --------  --------
                                                              $ 16,081  $ 23,259  $ 37,335
                                                              --------  --------  --------
                                                              --------  --------  --------
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS (2)
  Domestic..................................................  $142,644  $133,200  $134,897
  Foreign...................................................    33,604    42,843    37,149
                                                              --------  --------  --------
                                                              $176,248  $176,043  $172,046
                                                              --------  --------  --------
                                                              --------  --------  --------
<FN>
- ------------------------
(1)  Before restructuring (provision) credit, shown on page F-15.

(2)  Excludes Corporate, shown on page F-15.
</TABLE>
    

    The above sales are based upon geographic origin of sale. Intercompany sales
are  made at selling prices comparable to those to unaffiliated customers. Sales
to any single customer or government  entity did not exceed 10% of  consolidated
sales. Operating earnings are net sales less operating expenses.

                                      F-16
<PAGE>
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

   
12. BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
    
    Product  lines contributing more than 10% of total sales in any of the years
ended October 31 were as follows:

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               YEAR ENDED
                                                               OCTOBER 31,
                                                              -------------
                                                              1993 1994 1995
                                                              ---  ---  ---
<S>                                                           <C>  <C>  <C>
Printed circuit board drilling equipment....................  16 % 18 % 26 %
Gauge products..............................................  13 % 13 % 12 %
</TABLE>
    

   
13. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
    
    The following is a summary of unaudited quarterly financial information:

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               FIRST   SECOND    THIRD   FOURTH
                                                              -------  -------  -------  -------
<S>                                                           <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
                                                               (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE
                                                                           AMOUNTS)
YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1994
Net sales...................................................  $57,872  $70,867  $71,676  $93,629
Gross margin................................................   21,725   27,867   28,496   37,559
Net earnings (loss).........................................     (404)   1,154    1,515    5,298(1)
Net earnings (loss) per share...............................  $  (.06) $   .18  $   .23  $   .80(1)
YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1995
Net sales...................................................  $83,332  $84,812  $87,318  $96,435
Gross margin................................................   33,394   34,593   36,034   37,042
Net earnings................................................    2,198    3,051    6,589(2)   5,543
Net earnings per share......................................  $   .32  $   .44  $   .93(2) $   .84
</TABLE>
    

- ------------------------
   
(1) Net earnings in the fourth quarter of  1994 reflect a $2.0 million, or  $.30
    per  share,  tax benefit  recorded  as a  result  of a  settlement  with the
    Internal Revenue Service. Without this credit, net earnings would have  been
    $3.3 million or $.50 per share.
    

   
(2) Net  earnings  in  the  third quarter  of  1995  reflect  nonrecurring items
    including a pre-tax restructuring credit of $2.1 million, or $.20 per  share
    on  an after-tax basis, and a  pre-tax patent infringement settlement credit
    of $1.3 million,  or $.12  per share on  an after-tax  basis. Without  these
    credits, net earnings would have been $4.2 million, or $.61 per share.
    

                                      F-17
<PAGE>
- ------------------------------------------------
                                ------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------
                                ------------------------------------------------

    NO  PERSON  HAS BEEN  AUTHORIZED  TO GIVE  ANY  INFORMATION OR  TO  MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS  OFFERING OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED  IN
THIS   PROSPECTUS  AND,   IF  GIVEN   OR  MADE,   SUCH  OTHER   INFORMATION  AND
REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY
OR THE UNDERWRITERS. NEITHER THE DELIVERY  OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE  MADE
HEREUNDER  SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS
BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE  COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT  THE
INFORMATION  CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF  ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.
THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT  CONSTITUTE AN OFFER  TO SELL OR  A SOLICITATION OF  AN
OFFER  TO BUY ANY  SECURITIES OTHER THAN  THE REGISTERED SECURITIES  TO WHICH IT
RELATES. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A  SOLICITATION
OF  AN OFFER TO BUY SUCH SECURITIES IN  ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR
SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL.

                              -------------------

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           PAGE
                                                            ---
<S>                                                     <C>
Prospectus Summary....................................           3
Risk Factors..........................................           6
Use of Proceeds.......................................           9
Price Range of Common Stock and Dividend Policy.......           9
Capitalization........................................          10
Selected Historical Financial and Operating Data......          11
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of
  Operations and Financial Condition..................          12
Business..............................................          16
Management............................................          22
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
  Management..........................................          24
Description of Capital Stock..........................          25
Underwriting..........................................          29
Legal Matters.........................................          30
Experts...............................................          31
Available Information.................................          31
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.......          31
Index to Financial Statements.........................         F-1
</TABLE>
    

                                1,800,000 SHARES

                                     [LOGO]

                       ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

                                  COMMON STOCK

                              --------------------

                                   PROSPECTUS

                              --------------------

                            PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED

                          RAGEN MACKENZIE INCORPORATED

                         PACIFIC CREST SECURITIES INC.

                                  ------------

   
                                         , 1996
    

- ------------------------------------------------
                                ------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------
                                ------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                [ALTERNATIVE PAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTUS]

Information   contained  herein  is  subject   to  completion  or  amendment.  A
registration statement  relating to  these securities  has been  filed with  the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission. These securities  may not be  sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior  to the time the registration statement  becomes
effective.  This  prospectus  shall  not  constitute an  offer  to  sell  or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these  securities
in  any State in which such offer,  solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State.
<PAGE>
                [ALTERNATIVE PAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTUS]

   
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
                 PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED DECEMBER 22, 1995
    

                                1,800,000 SHARES

                                     [LOGO]

                       ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
                                  COMMON STOCK
                                ----------------

    All of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby are being sold by Esterline
Technologies  Corporation,  a  Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company").  Of  the
1,800,000  shares  of Common  Stock offered,  360,000  shares are  being offered
hereby in an international  offering outside the United  States and Canada  (the
"International  Shares") and 1,440,000 shares are  being offered in a concurrent
offering in the United States and Canada. The price to the public and  aggregate
underwriting  discounts and  commissions per  share will  be identical  for both
offerings. See "Underwriting."

   
    The Company's Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE")
under the trading  symbol "ESL." On  December 21, 1995,  the last reported  sale
price  of the Common  Stock as reported by  the NYSE was  $22.375 per share. See
"Price Range of Common Stock."
    
                              -------------------

    PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE MATTERS DISCUSSED  UNDER
"RISK FACTORS" ON PAGE 6 IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
                               -----------------

THESE    SECURITIES   HAVE   NOT   BEEN   APPROVED   OR   DISAPPROVED   BY   THE
   SECURITIES   AND   EXCHANGE   COMMISSION    OR   ANY   STATE    SECURITIES
     COMMISSION   NOR  HAS  THE  SECURITIES   AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR
        ANY  STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  PASSED  UPON  THE   ACCURACY
            OR  ADEQUACY OF  THIS PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO
                          THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         UNDERWRITING
                                        PRICE TO         DISCOUNTS AND       PROCEEDS TO
                                         PUBLIC         COMMISSIONS (1)      COMPANY (2)
<S>                                 <C>                <C>                <C>
Per Share.........................  $                  $                  $
Total.............................          $                  $                  $
Total Assuming Full Exercise of
 Over-Allotment Option (3)........          $                  $                  $
<FN>
(1)  See "Underwriting."
(2)  Before deducting expenses estimated at  $415,000, which are payable by  the
     Company.
(3)  Assuming  exercise in full of  the 30-day option granted  by the Company to
     the Underwriters to purchase up to  270,000 additional shares, on the  same
     terms, solely to cover over-allotments. See "Underwriting."
</TABLE>

                              -------------------

   
    The  International  Shares are  offered  by the  International Underwriters,
subject to  prior  sale, when,  as  and if  delivered  to and  accepted  by  the
International Underwriters, and subject to their right to reject orders in whole
or  in part. It is expected that delivery  of the shares of Common Stock will be
made in New York City on or about            , 1996.
    
                              -------------------

PAINEWEBBER INTERNATIONAL
                          RAGEN MACKENZIE INCORPORATED
                                                   PACIFIC CREST SECURITIES INC.
                                  ------------

   
                THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS          , 1996.
    
<PAGE>
                [ALTERNATIVE PAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTUS]

                 CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES
                          TO NON-UNITED STATES HOLDERS

    The following is a general discussion  of certain United States Federal  tax
consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of Common Stock by a
holder  that, for United  States Federal income  tax purposes, is  not a "United
States person" (a "Non-United States Holder"). This discussion is based upon the
United States  Federal  tax law  now  in effect,  which  is subject  to  change,
possibly  retroactively.  For  purposes  of this  discussion,  a  "United States
person" means  a  citizen or  resident  of  the United  States;  a  corporation,
partnership,  or other entity created or organized in the United States or under
the laws of the  United States or  of any political  subdivision thereof; or  an
estate  or trust whose  income is includible  in gross income  for United States
Federal income tax purposes regardless of  its source. This discussion does  not
consider  any specific  facts or  circumstances that  may apply  to a particular
Non-United States Holder. Prospective investors  are urged to consult their  tax
advisors  regarding  the United  States Federal  tax consequences  of acquiring,
holding, and disposing of Common Stock, as well as any tax consequences that may
arise under the laws of any foreign, state, local, or other taxing jurisdiction.

DIVIDENDS

    Dividends paid to a  Non-United States Holder will  generally be subject  to
withholding  of United States Federal  income tax at the  rate of 30% unless the
dividend is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within
the United States by  the Non-United States Holder,  in which case the  dividend
will  be subject  to the  United States  Federal income  tax on  net income that
applies to  United States  persons  generally (and,  with respect  to  corporate
holders  and under  certain circumstances,  the branch  profits tax). Non-United
States Holders  should consult  any applicable  income tax  treaties, which  may
provide  for a  lower rate  of withholding or  other rules  different from those
described above. A Non-United States Holder  may be required to satisfy  certain
certification  requirements in order to claim treaty benefits or otherwise claim
a reduction of or exemption from withholding under the foregoing rules.

GAIN ON DISPOSITION

    A Non-United States Holder  will generally not be  subject to United  States
Federal  income tax on gain recognized on  a sale or other disposition of Common
Stock unless (i) the gain is effectively  connected with the conduct of a  trade
or  business within the United States by the Non-United States Holder or (ii) in
the case of a Non-United States Holder who is a nonresident alien individual and
holds the Common Stock as a capital asset, such holder is present in the  United
States  for 183 or more days in  the taxable year and certain other requirements
are met. Gain  that is  effectively connected  with the  conduct of  a trade  or
business  within  the United  States  by the  Non-United  States Holder  will be
subject to the United States  Federal income tax on  net income that applies  to
United  States persons  generally (and,  with respect  to corporate  holders and
under certain circumstances, the branch profits tax) but will not be subject  to
withholding. Non-United States Holders should consult applicable treaties, which
may provide for different rules.

FEDERAL ESTATE TAXES

    Common Stock owned or treated as owned by an individual who is not a citizen
or resident (as specially defined for United States Federal estate tax purposes)
of  the United States at the date of death will be included in such individual's
estate for  United States  Federal  estate tax  purposes, unless  an  applicable
estate tax treaty provides otherwise.

INFORMATION REPORTING AND BACKUP WITHHOLDING

    Under   temporary   United  States   Treasury  regulations,   United  States
information reporting requirements and backup withholding tax will generally not
apply to dividends paid on the Common Stock to a Non-United States Holder at  an
address  outside the  United States.  Payments by  a United  States office  of a
broker of the proceeds of a sale of  the Common Stock is subject to both  backup
withholding  at  a  rate of  31%  and  information reporting  unless  the holder
certifies its  Non-United States  Holder status  under penalties  of perjury  or
otherwise  establishes an exemption. Information reporting requirements (but not
backup withholding) will also apply to payments of the proceeds of sales of  the
Common Stock by foreign offices of

                                       29
<PAGE>
                [ALTERNATIVE PAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTUS]
United States brokers, or foreign brokers with certain types of relationships to
the  United States,  unless the broker  has documentary evidence  in its records
that the holder is a Non-United  States Holder and certain other conditions  are
met, or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption.

    Backup  withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the
backup withholding rules  will be  refunded or credited  against the  Non-United
States  Holder's United States  Federal income tax  liability, provided that the
required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.

    These information reporting and backup withholding rules are under review by
the United States Treasury  and their application to  the Common Stock could  be
changed by future regulations.

                                       30
<PAGE>
                [ALTERNATIVE PAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTUS]

                                  UNDERWRITING

    The  International  Underwriters  named  below,  acting  through PaineWebber
(U.K.) Ltd., Ragen MacKenzie Incorporated, and Pacific Crest Securities Inc., as
International  Representatives  (the   "International  Representatives"),   have
severally  agreed,  subject  to  the  terms  and  conditions  set  forth  in the
Underwriting  Agreement  by  and  among   the  Company  and  the   International
Underwriters  (the "International Underwriting Agreement"), to purchase from the
Company, and the Company has agreed  to sell to the International  Underwriters,
the  aggregate number of shares  of Common Stock set  forth opposite their names
below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                NUMBER OF
U.S. UNDERWRITERS                                                                SHARES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------
<S>                                                                            <C>
PaineWebber International (U.K.) Ltd.........................................
Ragen MacKenzie Incorporated.................................................
Pacific Crest Securities Inc.................................................

                                                                               -----------
Total........................................................................     360,000
                                                                               -----------
                                                                               -----------
</TABLE>

    In  addition,  the  U.S.  Underwriters  (together  with  the   International
Underwriters,  the "Underwriters"), in a concurrent offering of the Common Stock
to U.S  Persons (as  defined below),  acting through  PaineWebber  Incorporated,
Ragen   MacKenzie   Incorporated,  and   Pacific   Crest  Securities   Inc.,  as
Representatives (the "Representatives"), have  severally agreed, subject to  the
terms  and conditions set forth  in the Underwriting Agreement  by and among the
Company and  the  U.S.  Underwriters (the  "U.S.  Underwriting  Agreement"),  to
purchase  from  the Company,  and the  Company has  agreed to  sell to  the U.S.
Underwriters, 1,440,000 shares of Common Stock.

    The International Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligation of the
International Underwriters to purchase the  shares of Common Stock listed  above
is  subject to certain conditions. The International Underwriting Agreement also
provides that the International Underwriters are obligated to purchase, and  the
Company  is obligated to sell, all the  shares of Common Stock offered hereby if
any are purchased  (without consideration of  any shares that  may be  purchased
through  the  Underwriters'  over-allotment  option).  The  offering  price  and
underwriting discounts and  commissions under both  underwriting agreements  are
identical.  In general, the  closing with respect  to the sale  of the shares of
Common Stock pursuant to the International Underwriting Agreement is a condition
to closing with respect to  the sale of the shares  of Common Stock pursuant  to
the  U.S. Underwriting Agreement and vice  versa. PaineWebber Incorporated is an
affiliate of PaineWebber International (U.K.) Ltd.

    The  International  Representatives  have  advised  the  Company  that   the
International  Underwriters propose to  offer the shares of  Common Stock to the
public at  the  public offering  price  set forth  on  the cover  page  of  this
Prospectus  and to certain dealers at such price less a concession not in excess
of $     per share  and that the International Underwriters may allow, and  such
dealers  may reallow, a concession not  in excess of $      per share to certain
other dealers, including  the International  Underwriters. After  the shares  of
Common  Stock are released for sale to the public, the public offering price and
concessions and discounts may be changed by the International Underwriters.

    Each International Underwriter has agreed that, as part of the  distribution
of  the shares of  Common Stock, (a) it  is not purchasing  any shares of Common
Stock for the account of any United States or Canadian Person and (b) it has not
offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly, any  shares
of  Common Stock or distribute  this Prospectus to any  person within the United
States or  Canada  or  to  any  United States  or  Canadian  Person.  Each  U.S.
Underwriter has agreed that, as part of the distribution of the shares of Common
Stock,  (a) it is not  purchasing any shares of Common  Stock for the account of
anyone other than a United States or Canadian Person and (b) it has not  offered
or  sold, and  will not  offer or  sell, directly  or indirectly,  any shares of
Common Stock or  distribute this  Prospectus to  any person  outside the  United
States or Canada or to anyone other than a United States or Canadian Person. The
foregoing  limitations do not apply to  stabilization transactions or to certain
other transactions specified in the

                                       31
<PAGE>
                [ALTERNATIVE PAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTUS]
Agreement Between (as defined below). As used herein, "United States or Canadian
Person" means any individual who is resident in the United States or Canada,  or
any  corporation,  pension,  profit-sharing  or  other  trust  or  other  entity
organized under or governed by  the laws of the United  States or Canada or  any
political  subdivision thereof (other than a foreign branch of any United States
or Canadian Person), and shall include any United States or Canadian branch of a
person other than a United States or Canadian Person; and "United States"  shall
mean  the Untied States  of America, its territories,  possessions and all areas
subject to its jurisdiction.

    Each International Underwriter has severally represented and agreed that (i)
it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell in the United Kingdom,  by
means  of any document, any  shares of Common Stock  other than to persons whose
ordinary business  it  is  to buy  or  sell  shares or  debentures,  whether  as
principal or agent, or in circumstances which do not constitute and offer to the
public  within the meaning of  the Companies Act 1985;  (ii) it has complied and
will comply with all  applicable provisions of the  Financial Services Act  1986
with  respect to anything done  by it in relation to  the shares of Common Stock
in, from  and otherwise  involving the  United Kingdom;  and (iii)  it has  only
issued  or passed on  and will only issue  or pass on in  the United Kingdom any
document received by it  in connection with  the issue of  the shares of  Common
Stock  to a person who is  of a kind described in  Article 9(3) of the Financial
Services Act 1986 (Investment  Advertisements) (Exemptions) Order  1988 or is  a
person to whom such document may otherwise lawfully be issued or passed on.

    The  U.S. Underwriters and  International Underwriters have  entered into an
Agreement Between U.S. and International Underwriters (the "Agreement  Between")
that  provides  for  the  coordination  of  their  activities.  Pursuant  to the
Agreement Between,  sales may  be made  between the  U.S. Underwriters  and  the
International  Underwriters of such number  of shares of Common  Stock as may be
mutually agreed upon. The  per share price  of any shares so  sold shall be  the
public  offering price set  forth on the  cover page of  the Prospectus, less an
amount not greater than the  per share amount of  the concession to dealers  set
forth above. To the extent there are sales between the U.S. Underwriters and the
International  Underwriters,  the number  of  shares of  Common  Stock initially
available for sale by the U.S. Underwriters or by the International Underwriters
may be  more or  less  than the  amount  appearing on  the  cover page  of  this
Prospectus.

    The Company has granted to the Underwriters an option, expiring at the close
of  business on the 30th day subsequent  to the effective date of this offering,
to purchase up to an aggregate of  270,000 additional shares of Common Stock  at
the  public offering price set forth on  the cover page of this Prospectus, less
the underwriting discounts and commissions.  The Underwriters may exercise  such
option only to cover over-allotments, if any, incurred in the sale of the shares
of  Common Stock. To the extent that the Underwriters exercise such option, each
Underwriter will  be  obligated,  subject to  certain  conditions,  to  purchase
approximately the same percentage of such additional shares as the percentage it
is  required to purchase of the total number of shares of Common Stock under the
U.S. or International Underwriting Agreement, as the case may be.

    The  Company  has  agreed  to  indemnify  the  U.S.  Underwriters  and   the
International  Underwriters against  certain liabilities,  including liabilities
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments which
the U.S. Underwriters or the International Underwriters may be required to  make
in respect thereof.

    The  Company and an executive  officer have agreed that  they will not sell,
contract to sell  or otherwise  dispose of  any shares  of Common  Stock or  any
rights  to purchase or  acquire shares of Common  Stock for a  period of 90 days
after the effective date of this offering, except for the shares of Common Stock
offered hereby, the issuance of shares by the Company pursuant to employee stock
options and  the  issuance of  shares  or options  by  the Company  pursuant  to
employee  benefit, stock option  and compensation plans  of the Company, without
the prior written consent of the Representatives.

                                 LEGAL MATTERS

    Certain legal matters with respect to the shares of the Common Stock offered
hereby will be passed upon  for the Company by  Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher  &
Flom,  Los Angeles, California.  Certain legal matters  relating to the offering
will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, Los
Angeles, California.

                                       32
<PAGE>
                [ALTERNATIVE PAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTUS]

                                    EXPERTS

   
    The consolidated financial statements of the Company as of October 31,  1994
and  1995 and for each of  the three years in the  period ended October 31, 1995
included  in  this  Prospectus,   and  related  financial  statement   schedules
incorporated  herein by reference,  have been audited by  Deloitte & Touche LLP,
independent auditors,  as  stated in  their  reports appearing  herein,  and  by
reference,  and  have been  so incorporated  and included  in reliance  upon the
reports of such  firm given upon  their authority as  experts in accounting  and
auditing.
    

                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION

    The  Company is subject to the  informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act  of 1934,  as  amended (the  "Exchange  Act"), and,  in  accordance
therewith,  files  reports,  proxy  statements and  other  information  with the
Securities and  Exchange  Commission  (the "Commission").  Such  reports,  proxy
statements  and  other information  filed by  the Company  may be  inspected and
copied at the Commission's regional offices at 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor,
New York, New  York 10048 and  Citicorp Center, 500  West Madison Street,  Suite
1400,  Chicago, Illinois 60661, and inspected and  copied or obtained by mail at
prescribed  rates  from  the  public  reference  facilities  maintained  by  the
Commission  at  its  principal  offices:  450  Fifth  Street,  N.W.,  Room 1024,
Washington, D.C. 20549.

    The Company's Common  Stock is listed  on the New  York Stock Exchange.  The
Company's  reports, proxy statements and other  information can be inspected and
copied at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York,
New York 10005.

    The Company has filed with the  Commission a registration statement on  Form
S-3  under the Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended, with  respect to the Common
Stock described in  this Prospectus. This  Prospectus does not  contain all  the
information  set forth in the registration  statement and exhibits and schedules
thereto. For further  information with  respect to  the Company  and the  Common
Stock,  reference is  made to  the registration  statement and  the exhibits and
schedules filed as part thereof. Statements  contained in this Prospectus as  to
the  contents  of  any  contract  or any  other  document  referred  to  are not
necessarily complete, and, in  each instance, reference is  made to the copy  of
such  contract or  document filed as  an exhibit to  the registration statement,
each such  statement  being qualified  in  all  respects by  reference  to  such
exhibit.  The registration statement, including  exhibits and schedules thereto,
may be inspected  without charge or  copied in  whole or in  part at  prescribed
rates at the Commission's principal offices set forth above.

                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

    The following documents, heretofore filed by the Company with the Commission
pursuant  to the Exchange  Act, are hereby incorporated  by reference, except as
superseded or modified herein:

   
    1.  The Description of the Company's Common Stock which is contained in  the
       Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated May 22, 1970.
    

   
    2.   The  Company's Annual  Report on  Form 10-K  for the  fiscal year ended
       October 31, 1995.
    

   
    Each document filed subsequent  to the date of  this prospectus pursuant  to
Section  13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of  the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prior
to the  termination  of the  offering  shall be  deemed  to be  incorporated  by
reference  in this Prospectus and  shall be part hereof  from the date of filing
such document.
    

   
    The Company will provide a copy  of the documents incorporated by  reference
herein  (other than exhibits  to such documents) without  charge to each person,
including any  beneficial owner,  to  whom this  Prospectus is  delivered,  upon
written  or  oral  request by  such  person.  Requests should  be  addressed to:
Esterline Technologies Corporation,  10800 NE 8th  Street, Bellevue,  Washington
98004,  Attention:  Director, Corporate  Communications (telephone  number (206)
453-9400).
    

                                       33
<PAGE>
                [ALTERNATIVE PAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTUS]

- ------------------------------------------------
                                ------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------
                                ------------------------------------------------

    NO PERSON  HAS  BEEN AUTHORIZED  TO  GIVE ANY  INFORMATION  OR TO  MAKE  ANY
REPRESENTATIONS  IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING  OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN
THIS  PROSPECTUS   AND,  IF   GIVEN  OR   MADE,  SUCH   OTHER  INFORMATION   AND
REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY
OR  THE UNDERWRITERS. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF  THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE
HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE  HAS
BEEN  NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE  COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS  OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS  DATE.
THIS  PROSPECTUS DOES NOT  CONSTITUTE AN OFFER  TO SELL OR  A SOLICITATION OF AN
OFFER TO BUY  ANY SECURITIES OTHER  THAN THE REGISTERED  SECURITIES TO WHICH  IT
RELATES.  THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION
OF AN OFFER TO BUY SUCH SECURITIES  IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER  OR
SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL.

                              -------------------

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          PAGE
                                                           ---
<S>                                                     <C>
Prospectus Summary....................................          3
Risk Factors..........................................          6
Use of Proceeds.......................................          9
Price Range of Common Stock and Dividend Policy.......          9
Capitalization........................................         10
Selected Historical Financial and Operating Data......         11
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of
  Operations and Financial Condition..................         12
Business..............................................         16
Management............................................         22
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
  Management..........................................         24
Description of Capital Stock..........................         25
Certain United States Federal Tax Consequences to
  Non-United States Holders...........................         29
Underwriting..........................................         31
Legal Matters.........................................         32
Experts...............................................         33
Available Information.................................         33
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.......         33
Index to Financial Statements.........................        F-1
</TABLE>
    

                                1,800,000 SHARES

                                     [LOGO]

                             ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES
                                  CORPORATION

                                  COMMON STOCK

                              --------------------

                                   PROSPECTUS

                              --------------------

                           PAINEWEBBER INTERNATIONAL

                          RAGEN MACKENZIE INCORPORATED

                         PACIFIC CREST SECURITIES INC.

                                  ------------

   
                                         , 1996
    

- ------------------------------------------------
                                ------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------
                                ------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     AMOUNT*
                                                                                    ----------
<S>                                                                                 <C>
Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee...............................  $   20,344
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Registration Fee...................................      10,500
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD) filing fee................       6,400
Printing and Engraving Expenses...................................................      75,000
Blue Sky Fees and Expenses (including counsel fees)...............................      10,000
Legal Fees and Expenses...........................................................     250,000
Accounting Fees and Expenses......................................................      15,000
Miscellaneous.....................................................................      27,756
                                                                                    ----------
  Total...........................................................................  $  415,000
                                                                                    ----------
                                                                                    ----------
<FN>
- ------------------------

 *   All expenses are estimated, except the registration, NYSE and NASD fees.
</TABLE>

ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

    The  Company is a Delaware corporation.  Section 145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the "DGCL")  provides that any person  may be indemnified by  a
Delaware  corporation against  expenses (including  attorneys' fees), judgments,
fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or
her in connection with  any threatened, pending, or  completed action, suit,  or
proceeding in which such person is made a party by reason of his or her being or
having  been a  director, officer,  employee, or  agent of  the corporation. The
statute  provides  that  indemnification  pursuant  to  its  provisions  is  not
exclusive  of other rights of indemnification to  which a person may be entitled
under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors,  or
otherwise.

    Article  Eighth,  Section 1  of the  Company's Certificate  of Incorporation
provides that directors of the Company shall not be liable to the Company or its
stockholders for monetary damages  for breach of fiduciary  duty as a  director,
except  to  the  extent such  exemption  from liability  or  limitation theories
expressly not permitted under the DGCL, as amended from time to time.

    Section 2  of  said Article  Eighth  provides for  indemnification  of  each
director  and officer who was or is a party  or is threatened to be made a party
to any action, suit or proceeding by virtue of his or her position as a director
or officer to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by the DGCL, as amended
from time  to time.  In addition,  the Registrant  has insurance  policies  that
provide  liability  coverage  to directors  and  officers while  acting  in that
capacity.

ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

    (a) EXHIBITS

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                            DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
- ------     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>        <S>
   1.1**   Form of U.S. Underwriting Agreement.
   1.2**   Form of International Underwriting Agreement.
   4.2     Form of Rights Agreement, dated as of December 9, 1992, between the
           Company and Chemical Bank, which includes as Exhibit A thereto the
           form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A
           Serial Preferred Stock and as Exhibit B thereto the form of Rights
           Certificate. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to the
           Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed December 17, 1992.)
</TABLE>
    

                                      II-1
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                            DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
- ------     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>        <S>
   5**     Legal Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
  23.1*    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
  23.2**   Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. (contained in its
           opinion filed as Exhibit 5 hereto.)
  24**     Power of Attorney (included on page II-3).
<FN>
- ------------------------
 *  filed herewith.
**  previously filed.
</TABLE>
    

ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS.

    The  undersigned  registrant  hereby   undertakes  that,  for  purposes   of
determining  any liability under the Securities Act  of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference  in the registration statement shall  be
deemed  to be  a new registration  statement relating to  the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to  be
the initial BONA FIDE offering thereof.

    Insofar  as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to  directors, officers and controlling persons of  the
registrant  pursuant to the  foregoing provisions, or  otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the  opinion of the Securities and Exchange  Commission
such  indemnification is against public  policy as expressed in  the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification  against
such  liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director,  officer or controlling person  of the registrant in  the
successful  defense  of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is asserted  by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities  being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has  been settled  by controlling  precedent, submit  to a  court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification by it is against  public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

    The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

        (1)  For purposes of determining any  liability under the Securities Act
    of 1933, the information omitted from  the form of prospectus filed as  part
    of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a
    form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4)
    or  497 (h)  under the  Securities Act shall  be deemed  to be  part of this
    registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

        (2) For the purpose  of determining any  liability under the  Securities
    Act  of  1933,  each  post-effective  amendment  that  contains  a  form  of
    prospectus shall be deemed  to be a new  registration statement relating  to
    the  securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
    time shall be deemed to be the initial BONA FIDE offering thereof.

                                      II-2
<PAGE>
                                     SIGNATURES

   
    Pursuant to the requirements of the  Securities Act of 1933, the  registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable grounds to  believe that it  meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Amendment No. 2  to
the  registration  statement to  be  signed on  its  behalf by  the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized,  in the  City of  Bellevue, State  of Washington,  on
December 22, 1995.
    

                                          ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

                                          By:      /s/  WENDELL P. HURLBUT

                                          --------------------------------------
                                                    Wendell P. Hurlbut
                                                 CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND
                                                 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

   
    Pursuant  to the requirements of the  Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
No. 2 to the Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons  in
the capacities indicated on December 22, 1995.
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                SIGNATURES                                      TITLE
- ------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------

<C>                                         <S>                                            <C>
                    *                       Chairman, President and Chief
    ---------------------------------        Executive Officer (Director and
            Wendell P. Hurlbut               Principal Executive Officer)

                    *
    ---------------------------------                         Director
           Gilbert W. Anderson

                    *
    ---------------------------------                         Director
             John F. Clearman

                    *
    ---------------------------------                         Director
             Edwin I. Colodny

                    *
    ---------------------------------                         Director
               E. John Finn

                    *
    ---------------------------------                         Director
           Robert F. Goldhammer
</TABLE>

                                      II-3
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                SIGNATURES                                      TITLE
- ------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------

<C>                                         <S>                                            <C>
                    *
    ---------------------------------                         Director
             Jerome J. Meyer

                    *
    ---------------------------------                         Director
            Paul G. Schloemer

                    *
    ---------------------------------                         Director
            Malcolm T. Stamper

                                            Executive Vice President and Chief
                    *                        Financial Officer, Secretary
    ---------------------------------        and Treasurer (Principal Financial
           Robert W. Stevenson               Officer and Accounting Officer)

      By:   /s/ ROBERT W. STEVENSON
    ---------------------------------
           ROBERT W. STEVENSON
             ATTORNEY-IN-FACT
</TABLE>

                                      II-4
<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   SEQUENTIALLY
EXHIBIT                                                                              NUMBERED
NUMBER                            DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT                              PAGE
- ------     ----------------------------------------------------------------------  ------------
<C>        <S>                                                                     <C>
   1.1**   Form of U.S. Underwriting Agreement.
   1.2**   Form of International Underwriting Agreement.
   4.2     Form of Rights Agreement, dated as of December 9, 1992, between the
           Company and Chemical Bank, which includes as Exhibit A thereto the
           form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A
           Serial Preferred Stock and as Exhibit B thereto the form of Rights
           Certificate. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to the
           Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed December 17, 1992.)
   5**     Legal Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
  23.1*    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
  23.2**   Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. (contained in its
           opinion filed as Exhibit 5 hereto.)
  24**     Power of Attorney (included on page II-3).
<FN>
- ------------------------
 *  filed herewith.
**  previously filed.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
   
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
    

   
                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
    

   
    We  consent to the incorporation by  reference in Registration Statement No.
33-62625 of Esterline Technologies Corporation on Amendment No. 2 to Form S-3 of
our report dated December 11, 1995, included  in the Annual Report on Form  10-K
of  Esterline Technologies Corporation for the  year ended October 31, 1995, and
to the use of our  report dated December 11,  1995 appearing in the  Prospectus,
which  is part of this Registration Statement.  We also consent to the reference
to us under the heading "Experts" in such Prospectus.
    

   
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Seattle, Washington
December 22, 1995
    


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