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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,
 DB4a1mjGl6Sl8BNwXujso+gV60hQzv/FltuBzYaHWLwq54ZZfo82KXLKWfvpskVd
 3uCzUHp/Btqe4buYIFKMxA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950168-98-000370.txt : 19980211
<SEC-HEADER>0000950168-98-000370.hdr.sgml : 19980211
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950168-98-000370
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	SC 13G
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		19980210
SROS:			AMEX

SUBJECT COMPANY:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WATKINS JOHNSON CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000105006
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY, NEC [3559]
		IRS NUMBER:				941402710
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		SC 13G
		SEC ACT:		
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	005-07672
		FILM NUMBER:		98526541

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3333 HILLVIEW AVE
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304-1223
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4154934141

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3333 HILLVIEW AVENUE
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304-1223

FILED BY:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTRAL SECURITIES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000018748
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				131875970
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		SC 13G

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		375 PARK AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10152
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2126883011

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		375 PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10152

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TRANS CENTRAL SECURITIES CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19700722

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BUERGER LADET & RADINSKY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19671026
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>SC 13G
<SEQUENCE>1
<DESCRIPTION>CENTRAL SECURITIES CORPORATION SC 13G
<TEXT>

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  Schedule 13G

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                             Watkins-Johnson Company
                                (Name of Issuer)

                     Common Stock, $1.00 per value per share
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                   942486 10 1
                                 (CUSIP Number)


*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).



<PAGE>



 1)     Names of Reporting Persons
        S.S. or I.R.S. Identification Nos. Of Above
        Persons:

        Central Securities Corporation

 2)     Check the appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

        (a) Not Applicable (b) Not Applicable

 3)     SEC Use Only

 4)     Citizenship or Place of Organization:

        Delaware

 Numbers of             5) Sole Voting Power
 Shares                    425,000
 Beneficially
 Owned by               6) Shared Voting Power
 Each                      -0-
 Reporting
 Person                 7) Sole Dispositive Power
 With                      425,000

                        8) Shared Dispositive Power
                           -0-

 9)     Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person:

        425,000

 10)    Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row 9 Excludes Certain Shares*

        Not Applicable

 11)    Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row 9

        5.1%

 12)    Type of Reporting Person*

        IV

                      *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!





<PAGE>



Item  1 (a)  Name of Issuer:
             Watkins-Johnson Company

Item  1 (b)  Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
             Stanford Research Park
             3333 Hillview Avenue
             Palo Alto, California 94304-1223


Item  2 (a)  Name of Person Filing:
             Central Securities Corporation

Item  2 (b)  Address of Principal Business Office:
             375 Park Avenue
             New York, New York 10152

Item  2 (c)  Citizenship:
             Delaware

Item  2 (d)  Title of Class of Securities:
             Common Stock

Item  2 (e)  CUSIP Number:
             942486 10 1

Item  3      If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b),
             or 13d-2(b), check whether the person filing is a:
        (d)  Investment company registered under Section 8 of the
             Investment Company Act

Item  4 (a)  Amount beneficially Owned:
             425,000

Item  4 (b)  Percent of Class:
             5.1%

Item  4 (c)  Number of shares as to which such person has:
               (i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote
                   425,000
              (ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote
                   -0-
             (iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the
                   disposition of
                   425,000
              (iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the
                   disposition of
                   -0-
Item  5      Ownership of Five Percent or less of a Class.
             Not applicable.

Item  6      Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of
             Another Person.  Not applicable.

Item  7      Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which
             acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding
             Company. Not applicable.


<PAGE>


Item  8      Identification and Classification of members of the
             Group.  Not applicable.

Item  9      Notice of Dissolution of Group.  Not applicable.

Item 10      Certification

                        By signing below I certify that, to the best of
my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the
ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not
have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of such
securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any
transaction having such purposes or effect.

                                    SIGNATURE

                        After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my
knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement
is true, complete and correct.




    February 10, 1998
 ---------------------
         Date



/S/ W. H. Kidd
- ---------------------
       Signature



 W. H. Kidd, President
- ----------------------
       Name/Title



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