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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 E+MyDid237djXsQTAbejEXfIw+OIaPMViAyBsxNXc1792WvCby1+ndwkXOGdQjNR
 DeRczrYDnK3HZ4X7dHVeYw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000091142-03-000015.txt : 20031222
<SEC-HEADER>0000091142-03-000015.hdr.sgml : 20031222
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031222150710
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000091142-03-000015
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031220
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031222

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITH BRUCE M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001236625

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00475
		FILM NUMBER:		031067501

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SMITH INVESTMENT CO
		STREET 2:		11270 WEST PARK PLACE STE 1200
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53224
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4143594032

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITH A O CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000091142
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MOTORS & GENERATORS [3621]
		IRS NUMBER:				390619790
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 245009
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53224-9509
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4143594000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 245009
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53224-9509
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-20</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000091142</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SMITH A O CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AOS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001236625</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH BRUCE M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SMITH INVESTMENT COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>11270 WEST PARK PLACE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MILWAUKEE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53224</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2649</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Plan </value><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-20</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>221</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPrice
PerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>14968</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See footnote</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2632</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Wife</value><footnoteId id="F3"/><footnoteId id="F4"/><footnoteId id="F5"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><deri
vativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock </value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>27.11</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2019-04-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2019-04-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>0</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>554</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F6"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-20</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transa
ctionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1146</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F7"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F8"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>0</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>77448</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See footnote</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNa
ture></derivativeTransaction><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F6"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F7"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F8"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>0</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>13619</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Wife.</value><footnoteId id="F3"/><footnoteId id="F4"/><footnoteId id="F5"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Dispositions reported above represent proportionate interest in gift of 471 shares of Smith
 Investment Company (&quot;SICO&quot;) common stock.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Shares deferred under the A. O. Smith Corporation Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Represents holdings of SICO common stock.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Holdings reported represent SICO shares hold by the reporting person's wife as custodian for his issue.</footnote><footnote id="F5">The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares held by his wife as custodian for his issue, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of these shares for purposes of Section 16 or any other purpose.</footnote><footnote id="F6">1 for 1 </footnote><footnote id="F7">Convertible at any time.</footnote><footnote id="F8">None</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Bruce M. Smith</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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