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PRESS RELEASE

Timken Announces Acquisition of Italian Ball Bearing Business

21 February 1997

The Timken Company Acquires Bearing Business in Italy

                          Acquisition to fuel growth

    CANTON, Ohio, Feb. 21 -- The Timken Company today completed
the acquisition of Gnutti Carlo S.p.A., a European manufacturer of tapered
roller bearings located near Brescia in Northern Italy.
    The business will be operated by Timken Italia, S.r.l., a Timken Company
subsidiary.  Charles J. DeVirgilio, who has held management positions in other
Timken units and its Latrobe Steel Company subsidiary, has been named general
manager.
    A definitive agreement between Timken and Gnutti Carlo S.p.A. had been
signed in late December.  The Italian plant, established in 1922, serves
primarily the European truck, railroad and industrial markets.  Its bearing
sales in 1996 approached $20 million.
    "For decades, The Timken Company has served many customers in the European
market, and this acquisition gives us an opportunity to grow in our
specialty," said Joseph F. Toot, Jr., president and chief executive officer.
"This facility in Italy will complement existing Timken plants in England,
France and Poland and enable us to offer a broader range of tapered roller
bearing products.  Timken Italia also operates an engineering and sales office
in Milan.
    The Timken Company is a leading international manufacturer of highly
engineered bearings and alloy steels.  The company employs some
19,000 associates worldwide and reported 1996 sales of about $2.4 billion.

SOURCE  The Timken Company

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CONTACT: Patrick K. Quinn, Communications Representative, of The Timken Company,
330-471-3836, or fax, 330-471-4118, or Internet, quinnp@timken.com