
<PAGE>
 
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            Washington, D. C. 20549



                                   FORM 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT

    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                        


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)        February 6, 1997
                                                --------------------------------



                                   AMETEK, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




           DELAWARE                     1-168               13-4923320
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of     (Commission         (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)      File Number)        Identification No.)
 

                     Station Square, Paoli, Pennsylvania             19301 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (Address of principal executive offices)         (Zip Code) 
 



Registrant's telephone number, including area code   610-647-2121
                                                   ----------------
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                                  AMETEK, INC.
                                  ------------



Item 5.     Other Events.
            -------------

     On February 5, 1997, AMETEK, Inc. issued a press release, a copy of which
is attached hereto as Exhibit 99(a).  The information contained in said press
release is hereby incorporated by reference in this Form 8-K.


Item 7.     Financial Statements and Exhibits.
           -----------------------------------

          (c)     Exhibits.

     Exhibit Number      Description
     --------------      -----------
 
            99 (a)     Copy of press release issued by AMETEK, Inc. on February
                       5, 1997.

                                       2
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                                  AMETEK, INC.
                                  ------------



                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



 
                                 
                                                      AMETEK, INC.
                                          -----------------------------------
                                                      (Registrant)



                                          By  /s/  Robert R. Mandos, Jr.
                                            ---------------------------------
                                                   Robert R. Mandos, Jr.
                                                   Comptroller
                                                  (Principal Accounting
                                                   Officer)


February 6, 1997

                                       3
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                                  AMETEK, INC.
                                  ------------


                                 EXHIBIT INDEX



         Exhibit Number            Description
         --------------            -----------
 
             99 (a)         Copy of press release issued by AMETEK, Inc. 
                            on February 5, 1997.

                                       4
