-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LAGgTmmo01tp/uWNt/WNUF4f03b3cbbi4x9+JdTAdKDG51mKDw+U7QuKMEtrGtOQ
 CXI6ClqCQfTMlTrwhZvb9w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001258010-03-000001.txt : 20030828
<SEC-HEADER>0001258010-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030828
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030828101124
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001258010-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030826
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030828

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PETRARCA STEPHEN M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001258010

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13200
		FILM NUMBER:		03869866

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		600 E GREENWICH AVE
		CITY:			W WARWICK
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02893

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ASTRO MED INC /NEW/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000008146
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMPUTER PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT, NEC [3577]
		IRS NUMBER:				050318215
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			RI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		600 E GREENWICH AVE
		CITY:			WEST WARWICK
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02893
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4018284000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		600 E GREENWICH AVENUE
		CITY:			WEST WARWICK
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02893

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ATLAN TOL INDUSTRIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19850220
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-26</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000008146</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ASTRO MED INC /NEW/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALOT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258010</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PETRARCA STEPHEN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>600 E GREENWICH AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>W WARWICK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>RI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02893</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7061</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.01</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2061</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote (2)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.7</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-10-18</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-03-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">After the exercise of options to purchase 5,000 shares of the issuer's common stock but prior to the sale of these shares as reported herein, the reporting person beneficially owned 7,061 shares of the issuer's common stock, of which 5,500 were held directly by the reporting person and 1,561 shares were held indirectly by the reporting person in an employee stock ownership plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Following the sale of 5,000 shares as reported herein, the reporting person beneficially owns 2,061 shares of the issuer's common stock, of which 500 share are held directly by the reporting person and 1,561 shares are held indirectly by the reporting person in an employee stock ownership plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Margaret D. Farrell (Attorney-in-Fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
