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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MRCDF7nYJw9oPec2JPPIAAswiMKnOgB5UVFnJtG15HuE2c2FKXWsBPrG08JDltzY
 y2Gbtre/AD6EfJqJpyq1SQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000091142-04-000011.txt : 20040116
<SEC-HEADER>0000091142-04-000011.hdr.sgml : 20040116
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040116145830
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000091142-04-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040115
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040116

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARTIN DENNIS J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001223267

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00475
		FILM NUMBER:		04529562

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GENERAL BINDING CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE GBC PLAZA
		CITY:			NORTHBROOK
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60062
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8472916070

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE GBC PLAZA
		CITY:			NORTHBROOK
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60062
</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>2004-01-15</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000091142</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SMITH A O CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AOS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001223267</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARTIN DENNIS J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE GBC PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTHBROOK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60062</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Award</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>34.01</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>111</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>34.01</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSec
urityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>111</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>111</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Payment of portion of retainer in phantom stock under the A. O. Smith Corporation Directors' Compensation Plan based on the market price of the Common Stock on January 15, 2004.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The Plan (See Footnote #1) permits the participant/recipient to defer the receipt of the award and Mr. Martin has made a deferral.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Kenneth J. Maciolek, Attorney-in-Fact for Dennis J. Martin</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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