-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Fuko6M+/frlY7qPD8tfoVkGTQgIUkowFiq1Q24IALbAx0i0wBjJPJDTLtisVKs7C
 usFGTPbU8Jq5y3BT+K1vDw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001258016-03-000002.txt : 20031203
<SEC-HEADER>0001258016-03-000002.hdr.sgml : 20031203
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031203150251
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001258016-03-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031202
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031203

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OCONNELL JOSEPH P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001258016

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13200
		FILM NUMBER:		031035163

	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>2003-12-02</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258016</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OCONNELL JOSEPH P</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, Treasurer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1865</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14288</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3135</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.41</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11153</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Following the sales as reported herein, the reporting person beneficially owns 11,153 shares of the issuer's common stock, of which (i) 10,278 shares are held directly by the reporting person and (ii) 875 shares are held indirectly in an employee stock ownership plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Margaret D. Farrell (Attorney-in-fact for Joseph P. O'Connell)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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