SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT

                      Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                      The Securities Exchange Act of 1934


        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 27, 2000


                        MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


        Pennsylvania                   0-2504                  25-0668780
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(State or other jurisdiction        (Commission              (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)             File Number)           Identification No.)



           121 Gamma Drive
         RIDC Industrial Park
           O'Hara Township
       Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania                                  15238
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                       (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (412) 967-3000




Item 5. Other Events.

       The following document is filed as an exhibit to this Report.

       99.1 Press release Mine Safety Appliances Company dated June 27, 2000.




                                  SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                        MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
                                                 (Registrant)



                                        By     /s/ James E. Herald
                                           ----------------------------
                                                  James E. Herald
                                              Vice President - Finance

Date: June 27, 2000

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1



FROM:  Ketchum
       Six PPG Place - Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222-5488
       Contact: Mark Deasy - (412) 456-3843

FOR:   MSA (Mine Safety Appliances Company)

       Ticker: MSA (AMEX)
       Contact: James E. Herald, VP - Finance & CFO
       Phone: (412) 967-3000
       E-Mail: vpfinance@msanet.com


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



                       MSA SELLS STOCK TO PENSION PLAN


       June 27, 2000, PITTSBURGH -- John T. Ryan III, chairman and chief

executive officer of Mine Safety Appliances Company (MSA), announced today

the sale of 1.1 million shares of common stock to the MSA pension plan at

a price of $24.00 per share. Proceeds of the sale will be used to reduce

debt incurred to fund the purchase of 1.9 million shares of stock from the

estate and family of Mrs. Helen Ruth Henderson. Mrs. Henderson, who passed

away last summer, was the daughter of Mr. George H. Deike, Sr., a co-founder

of MSA.


       The company announced the purchase of the Henderson shares on June

20, 2000. At that time the company noted it was exploring the possible sale

of shares to its pension plan.


       There were approximately 12.7 million shares outstanding as of May

31, 2000. The combined effect of these two transactions has been to reduce

the total shares outstanding to 11.9 million, a reduction of 6.3%. The combined

financial impact is expected to be accretive to earnings per share and return

on shareholders' equity.


       MSA is the world's leading provider of quality products and services

that protect people's health, safety and the environment. The company has

annual sales of about $500 million, manufacturing operations throughout

the United States and 29 international affiliates.



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