1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 10-K

                ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
                      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 28, 1996      Commission file number 1-6770

                            MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               DELAWARE                             25-0790410
     (State or other jurisdiction                (I.R.S. Employer
   of incorporation or organization)            Identification No.)

                       6799 GREAT OAKS ROAD, SUITE 200
                          MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE  38138
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (901) 753-3200
          Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                                  Name of each exchange
       Title of each class                         on which registered

    Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value                New York Stock Exchange

        Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by a check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports 
required to be filed by section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the 
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to 
such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  /X/   No  / /

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, 
and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in 
definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part 
III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.[_X_].

The number of shares of the Registrant's common stock outstanding as of March
12, 1997 was 17,485,988, excluding 2,514,012 treasury shares.  The aggregate 
market value of the 15,931,835 shares of common stock held by non affiliates
of the Registrant was $702,992,000 at March 12, 1997 (based on the closing
price on the consolidated transaction reporting system on that date).

                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the following documents are incorporated by reference into this 
Report: (1) Registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended 
December 28, 1996 (Part I and II); Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement for
the 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, scheduled to be mailed on or about 
March 18, 1997 (Part III).



     2


                            MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.


As used in this report, the terms "Company," "Mueller" and "Registrant" mean 
Mueller Industries, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole, 
unless the context indicates otherwise.


                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                      Page

PART I
   Item 1.     Business..................................................3
   Item 2.     Properties................................................9
   Item 3.     Legal Proceedings........................................11
   Item 4.     Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders......11


PART II
   Item 5.     Market for the Registrant's Common Stock and Related 
                  Stockholder Matters...................................12
   Item 6.     Selected Financial Data..................................12
   Item 7.     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial 
                  Condition and Results of Operations...................12
   Item 8.     Financial Statements and Supplementary Data..............12
   Item 9.     Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on 
                  Accounting and Financial Disclosure...................12


PART III
   Item 10.    Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.......12
   Item 11.    Executive Compensation...................................13
   Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
                  and Management........................................13
   Item 13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions...........13


Part IV
   Item 14.    Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports
                  on Form 8-K...........................................13


Signatures..............................................................16













    3
                                     PART I


ITEM 1.     BUSINESS


Introduction

     The Company is a leading fabricator of copper, brass, plastic and 
aluminum products.  The range of these products is broad:  copper tube and 
fittings; brass and copper alloy rods, bars and shapes; aluminum and brass 
forgings; aluminum and copper impact extrusions; plastic fittings and 
valves; refrigeration valves, driers and flare fittings; and copper alloy 
tubing, aluminum tubing and fabricated tubular products.  These operations 
("Manufacturing Segment") accounted for approximately 97% of the Company's 
total net sales and 84% of total identifiable assets on a consolidated 
basis in 1996.  The Company markets its products to the heating and air 
conditioning, refrigeration, plumbing, hardware and other industries.  
Mueller operates sixteen factories in the United States, Canada, and the 
United Kingdom and has distribution facilities in each of these countries 
and sales representation worldwide.

     The Company's natural resource operations are conducted through its 
wholly-owned subsidiaries Arava Natural Resources Company, Inc. ("Arava") 
and Alaska Gold Company ("Alaska Gold").  Natural resource operations 
consist principally of the operation of a short line railroad in Utah and a 
placer gold mining operation in Alaska.

     Information concerning net sales, operating income, and identifiable 
assets of each segment appears under "Note 13 - Industry Segments" in the 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Mueller's Annual Report to 
Stockholders for the year ended December 28, 1996.  Such information is 
incorporated herein by reference.

Manufacturing Segment

     Products and Manufacturing Operations

     Mueller's standard products include a broad line of copper tube, which 
ranges in size from 1/8 inch to 8 inch diameter, and is sold in various 
straight lengths and coils.  Mueller is a market leader in the air 
conditioning and refrigeration tube markets.  Additionally, Mueller 
supplies a variety of water tube in straight lengths and coils used for 
plumbing applications in virtually every type of construction project.

     Other standard products include copper and plastic fittings and 
related components for the plumbing and heating industry that are used in 
water distribution systems, heating systems, air conditioning and 
refrigeration applications, and drainage, waste, and vent ("DWV") systems.  
Additionally, valves, wrot copper and brass fittings, filter driers and 
other related assemblies are manufactured for commercial air conditioning 
and refrigeration applications such as vending machines, ice machines, 
walk-in coolers, and numerous refrigeration applications.  The 
refrigeration product line also includes products for the refrigeration and 
air conditioning installation and service markets.  A major portion of 
Mueller's products are ultimately used in the domestic residential and 
commercial construction markets and, to a lesser extent, in the automotive 
and heavy on and off-the-road vehicle markets.

    4
     Mueller's industrial products include brass rod, nonferrous forgings 
and impact extrusions that are sold primarily to Original Equipment 
Manufacturers ("OEM") in the plumbing, refrigeration, fluid power, and 
automotive industries, as well as to other manufacturers and distributors.  
The Port Huron, Michigan mill extrudes brass, bronze and copper alloy rod 
in sizes ranging from 3/8 inches to 4 inches in diameter.  These alloys are 
used in applications that require a high degree of machinability, wear and 
corrosion resistance, and electrical conductivity.  Mueller brass and 
aluminum forgings are used in a wide variety of end products, including 
automotive components, brass fittings, industrial machinery, valve bodies, 
gear blanks, computer hardware, and fire fighting equipment.  The Company 
also serves the automotive, military ordnance, aerospace and general 
manufacturing industries with cold-formed aluminum and copper impact 
extrusions.  Typical applications for impacts are high-strength ordnance, 
high-conductivity electrical components, builders' hardware, hydraulic 
systems, automotive parts and other uses where toughness must be combined 
with varying complexities of design and finish.

     The Company's manufacturing facilities have operated at high levels 
during 1996, 1995, and 1994.

     Marketing and Distribution

     Mueller's standard products are marketed primarily through its own 
sales and distribution organization, which maintains sales offices and 
distribution centers throughout the United States and in Canada.  
Additionally, these products are sold and marketed through a network of 
agents, which, when combined with the Company's sales organization, provide 
the Company broad geographic market representation.

     Industrial products are sold, primarily, direct to OEM customers.  
Outside of North America, the Company sells its products through various 
channels including exclusive distributors, agents and direct sales channels 
in over 65 countries, primarily in Europe, the Far East and the Middle 
East.

     Competition

     The businesses in which Mueller is engaged are highly competitive.  
The principal methods of competition for Mueller's products are customer 
service and availability.  No material portion of Mueller's business is 
dependent upon a single customer or a small group of related customers.  
The total amount of order backlog for Mueller's products on December 28, 
1996 and December 30, 1995 was not significant.

     The Company competes with various companies depending on the product 
line.  In copper tubing, the domestic competition includes Cerro Copper 
Products Co., Inc., Halstead Industries, Inc., Reading Tube Corporation, 
and Wolverine Tube, Inc. as well as many actual and potential foreign 
competitors.  Additionally, it competes with a large number of 
manufacturers of substitute products made from plastic, iron and steel.  In 
the copper fittings market, competitors include Elkhart Products, a 
division of Amcast Industrial Corporation, and NIBCO, Inc.  The plastic 
fittings competitors include more than a dozen companies.  The brass rod 
competitors include Cerro Metal Products Company, Inc., Chase Brass 
Industries, Inc., Extruded Metals Inc., and others both domestic and 
foreign.  As illustrated above, no other single competitor offers such a 
wide ranging product line; management believes that this is a competitive 
advantage in some markets.
    5
     Raw Materials and Supplies

     The major portion of Mueller's base metal requirements (primarily 
copper) are normally obtained through short-term supply contracts with 
competitive pricing provisions.  Other raw materials used in the production 
of brass, including brass scrap, zinc, tin and lead are obtained from zinc 
and lead producers, open-market dealers and customers with brass process 
scrap.  Raw materials used in the fabrication of aluminum and plastic 
products are purchased in the open market from major producers.

Natural Resources Segment

     Mueller, through its subsidiaries Arava and Alaska Gold, is engaged in 
the operation of a short line railroad in Utah and placer gold mining in 
Alaska.  It also owns interests in other natural resource properties.

     Short Line Railroad

     Utah Railway Company ("Utah Railway"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of 
Arava, operates over approximately 100 miles of railroad track in Utah.  
Utah Railway serves four major customers pursuant to long-term contracts 
which account for more than 75% of tonnage hauled.  The Utah Railway 
transports more than six million tons of coal per year to an interchange 
point at Provo, Utah, although annual tonnage may vary significantly due to 
fluctuations in the production from the coal mines on the Utah Railway's 
lines and the demand for export coal.  The coal is then transported by 
connecting railroads to various customers including electric utilities, 
cement plants, west coast export facilities and others at destinations 
throughout the West.

     In February, 1996, Utah Railway entered into an agreement with Union 
Pacific Railroad (UP) whereby UP was granted rights to operate over a 
portion of Utah Railway track.  In exchange, UP granted limited rights to 
Utah Railway for operations over Southern Pacific (SP) tracks to Grand 
Junction, Colorado and access to additional coal customers.  

     Gold Mining

     Alaska Gold mines placer gold in Nome, Alaska.  Alaska Gold produced 
22,918 net ounces of gold in 1996, 18,731 net ounces of gold in 1995, 
14,173 net ounces of gold in 1994, 22,440 net ounces of gold in 1993, and 
17,965 net ounces of gold in 1992, at a net production cost of $352 per 
ounce in 1996, $307 per ounce in 1995, $376 per ounce in 1994, $280 per 
ounce in 1993, and $306 per ounce in 1992.  Based on the results of past 
exploratory drilling, Alaska Gold believes there may be various areas 
available on its properties to sustain open pit mining for ten years.

     Properties consist of approximately 14,500 acres in and adjacent to 
Nome.  In addition, Alaska Gold owns or has patented claims on 
approximately 10,400 acres in the Fairbanks, Alaska area, and approximately 
3,000 acres in the Hogatza, Alaska area.

     On March 14, 1996, the Company acquired the minority shareholders' 
fifteen percent interest in Alaska Gold, thereby making Alaska Gold a 
wholly-owned subsidiary.




    6
     Other Natural Resources Properties

     The Company also has interests in various mineral properties located 
in the United States.  None of these mineral properties are significant to 
the Company's business, and they may be sold, developed, or leased.

     United States Fuel Company ("U.S. Fuel"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of 
Arava, owns approximately 8,900 acres of coal properties and leases an 
additional 2,700 acres.  U.S. Fuel mined steam coal by the deep-mine 
process at its coal properties located in Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 
until coal production ceased in March 1993.  Currently, these properties 
are undergoing environmental remediation.  The Company continues to pursue 
divestiture of these properties.

     In 1992, Ruby Hill Mining Company ("Ruby Hill") entered into a four-
year Exploration Agreement with a Purchase Option (the "Exploration 
Agreement") with Homestake Mining Company of California ("Homestake") for 
its property near Eureka, Nevada.  Homestake has a substantial exploration 
and drilling program underway on the property.  In 1994, Homestake 
exercised its option to purchase the property; the total purchase price is 
$4 million payable over up to a six-year period depending on timing of 
production decisions and commencement of production.  As of December 28, 
1996, the Company has received and recognized as gains $2.0 million of the 
total purchase price.  If Homestake produces a total of 500,000 ounces of 
gold or "gold equivalents" of other metals from this property, Ruby Hill is 
thereafter entitled to a three percent net smelter return royalty, after 
deduction for certain taxes and transportation.  Arava owns 81% of the 
stock of Richmond-Eureka Mining Company, which owns 75% of the stock of 
Ruby Hill.

Labor Relations

     At December 28, 1996, the Company employed approximately 2,350 
employees of which approximately 1,100 were represented by various unions.  
A majority of the unionized employees are under contracts which expire in 
1999.

Raw Material and Energy Availability

     Adequate supplies of raw material are available to the Company.  
Sufficient energy in the form of natural gas, fuel oils and electricity is 
available to operate the Company's production facilities.  While temporary 
shortages of raw material and fuels may occur occasionally, they have not 
materially hampered the Company's operations.

Environmental Matters

     The Company is subject to various laws and regulations relating to 
environmental quality.  Compliance with these laws and regulations is a 
matter of high priority.

     Mueller's provision for environmental compliance includes charges of 
$2.0 million in 1996, $1.4 million in 1995, $2.9 million in 1994, and $1.1 
million in 1993.  Except as discussed below, the Company does not 
anticipate that it will need to make material expenditures for such 
compliance activities during the remainder of the 1997 fiscal year, or for 
the next two fiscal years.


    7
     Mining Remedial Recovery Company ("MRRC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary 
of Arava, was formed for the purpose of managing the remediation of certain 
properties and the appropriate disposition thereof.

     1.     Cleveland Mill Site

     In 1993, the EPA issued special notice letters to all known 
potentially responsible parties ("PRPs") regarding the Cleveland Mill 
Superfund Site in Grant County, New Mexico.  In response, MRRC, Bayard 
Mining Corp. ("Bayard"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arava, and a third 
party filed a good faith offer to implement the remedy set forth in the 
EPA's Record of Decision ("ROD").  Total future costs for remediating the 
site were estimated by the EPA in the ROD at approximately $6.2 million.  
MRRC and Bayard, along with said third party, have entered into a consent 
decree relating to the site and have agreed to an allocation formula 
requiring Bayard and MRRC to pay 29.20% of future costs.  The third party 
has agreed to pay the balance.  No satisfactory bids to process the 
Cleveland Mill tailings were received and MRRC, Bayard and said third party 
are negotiating with the New Mexico Environmental Department about the 
terms of a consent order which would permit placement of the Cleveland Mill 
site mill tailings at the nearby Hanover site.

     2.     Hanover Site

     MRRC owns 80 acres in Grant County, New Mexico called the Hanover 
site, which contains in excess of 3.0 million cubic yards of mill tailings.  
A voluntary plan to regrade and cap the soil at this site has been 
substantially completed.  Regrading and capping of approximately twenty 
acres at Hanover has been deferred pending a decision on storage of 
tailings from the nearby Cleveland Mill site.

     3.     Mammoth Mine Site

     MRRC owns title to some inactive mines in Shasta County, California.  
MRRC has continued a program begun in the late 1980s of sealing mine 
portals with concrete plugs in mine adits which were discharging water.  
The sealing program has achieved a reduction in the metal load in 
discharges from these adits; however, additional reductions are being 
required.  In addition, during 1996, the California Regional Water Quality 
Control Board issued an Order whereby MRRC is required to perform certain 
studies to establish planning for future remedial actions.  MRRC has 
commenced these activities as described by the Order and has performed 
other remediation activities to improve the quality of water discharges.

     In April, 1996, MRRC settled a Lawsuit from an adjoining landowner.  
As part of the settlement, MRRC acquired approximately 4,000 acres of 
patented mining claims and other property located in Shasta County.  MRRC 
intends to remediate the mine sites on this acquired property as part of 
its overall efforts at Mammoth.










    8
     4.     U.S.S. Lead

     In 1991, U.S.S. Lead Refinery, Inc. ("Lead Refinery"), responded to an 
information request from EPA under Superfund for information on whether 
Lead Refinery arranged for the disposal of hazardous substances in the 
vicinity of the Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Ship Canal.  By letter 
dated February 4, 1997, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management 
(IDEM) notified Lead Refinery that a preassessment screening of the Grand 
Calumet River and the Indiana Harbor Canal conducted pursuant to Superfund, 
had identified releases of hazardous substances from Lead Refinery and 
other PRPs that had adversely impacted natural resources.  Based on the 
prescreening assessment, IDEM has requested that Lead Refinery agree to 
fund the preparation of an assessment plan which will, in part, quantify 
the loss of natural resources.  By letter dated March 11, 1997, lead 
Refinery responded to the February 4 letter and without waiving its 
affirmative defenses, stated its willingness to participate in the 
preparation of an assessment plan.  In 1991, Lead Refinery also responded 
to an information request under Superfund regarding the Lead Refinery site 
in East Chicago, Indiana.  In 1992, EPA advised Lead Refinery of its intent 
to list the property as a Superfund site.  Lead Refinery opposed such 
listing and, as of March 20, 1997, EPA has deferred such listing.

     In 1993, Lead Refinery entered into a Consent Order with the EPA 
pursuant to Section 3008(h) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 
("RCRA").  The Consent Order covers remediation activities at the East 
Chicago, Indiana site and provides for Lead Refinery to complete certain 
on-site interim remedial activities and studies that extend off site.  In 
November 1996 the EPA approved, with modifications, the Interim 
Stabilization Measures Workplan and designated a Corrective Action 
Management Unit at the Lead Refinery site.  Site activities, based on the 
approval, began during December 1996.  The costs for the studies and 
interim clean up efforts are expected to be approximately $2.5 million, the 
majority of which would be required to be expended in 1997 and 1998.  Once 
these activities are completed, additional work would likely be needed to 
investigate and remediate any contamination not addressed by the Consent 
Order.  Lead Refinery, without additional assistance from MRRC, lacks the 
financial resources needed to complete the additional remediation and 
intends to seek financial assistance from other PRPs to permit Lead 
Refinery to conduct a private-party cleanup under RCRA.

     Lead Refinery has been informed by the former owner and operator of a 
Superfund site located in Pedricktown, New Jersey that it intends to seek 
CERCLA response costs for alleged shipments of hazardous substances to the 
site.  Lead Refinery has executed an agreement regarding that site, which 
indefinitely extends the statute of limitations.  By letter dated January 
26, 1996, Lead Refinery and other PRPs received from EPA, a proposed 
Administrative Order on Consent to perform the remedial design for operable 
Unit 1 of the Pedricktown Superfund Site.  Lead Refinery determined not to 
execute the Administrative Order on Consent.  Several other PRPs, however, 
executed the agreement and are conducting the remedial design.









    9
     Miscellaneous

     In 1994, the Company received notice from the EPA that Mueller Brass 
Co. was a PRP at the Jack's Creek/Sitkin Smelting Superfund Site in Eastern 
Pennsylvania.  Mueller Brass Co. is alleged to have contributed less than 1 
percent of the hazardous wastes at this site.  Based upon its estimated 
allocation ranking, its share of the EPA's estimated cleanup costs would be 
less than $500,000.  In November, 1996, Mueller Brass Co. submitted a 
ballot in support of an alternative cleanup plan proposed by the PRP 
working group.  If the alternative plan is approved by the EPA, Mueller 
Brass Co.'s portion of the cleanup would be approximately $300,000.  A 
decision by the EPA is expected in 1997.

Other Business Factors

     The Registrant's business is not materially dependent on patents, 
trademarks, licenses, franchises or concessions held.  In addition, 
expenditures for company-sponsored research and development activities were 
not material during 1996, 1995, or 1994.  No material portion of the 
Registrant's business involves governmental contracts.


ITEM 2.     PROPERTIES


     Information pertaining to the Registrant's major operating facilities 
is included below.  Except as noted, the Registrant owns all of its 
principal properties.  The Registrant's plants are in satisfactory 
condition and are suitable for the purpose for which they were designed and 
are now being used.


Location            Property Size                   Description


Port Huron, MI      260,000 sq. ft.       Brass rod mill.  Facility includes 
                    23.19 acres           casting, extruding, and finishing 
                                          equipment to produce brass rods 
                                          and bars, in various shapes and 
                                          sizes.


Port Huron, MI      46,500 sq. ft.        Forgings plant.  Produces brass 
                                          and aluminum forgings.


Marysville, MI      62,500 sq. ft.        Aluminum and copper impacts plant.
                    6.72 acres            Produces made to order parts using 
                                          cold impact processes.


Port Huron, MI      13,500 sq. ft.        Formed tube plant.  Produces 
                    5.11 acres            copper fittings using cold heading 
                                          equipment.





    10
Fulton, MS          405,500 sq. ft.       Copper tube mill.  Facility 
                    60.70 acres           includes casting, extruding and 
                                          finishing equipment to produce 
                                          copper tubing, including tube feed 
                                          stock for the Company's copper 
                                          fittings plants, Line sets plant, 
                                          and Precision Tube factory.


Fulton, MS          70,500 sq. ft.(1)     Copper fittings plant.  High-
                                          volume facility that produces 
                                          copper fittings using tube feed 
                                          stock from the Company's copper 
                                          tube mill.


Fulton, MS          20,000 sq. ft.(2)     Line sets plant.  Produces copper 
                                          tube line sets using tube feed 
                                          stock from the Company's copper 
                                          tube mill.


Covington, TN       159,500 sq. ft.       Copper fittings plant.  Facility 
                    40.88 acres           produces copper fittings using 
                                          tube feed stock from the Company's 
                                          copper tube mill.


Strathroy,          54,000 sq. ft.        Copper fittings plant.  Facility 
Ontario Canada      4.67 acres            produces copper fittings for the 
                                          Canadian domestic markets and for 
                                          export to European markets.


Upper Sandusky,     82,000 sq. ft.        Plastic fittings plant.  Produces 
OH                  7.52 acres            DWV fittings using injection 
                                          molding equipment.


Kalamazoo, MI       130,000 sq. ft.       Plastic fittings plant.  Produces 
                                          DWV fittings using injection 
                                          molding equipment.


Cerritos, CA        115,000 sq. ft.(3)    Plastic fittings plant.  Produces 
                                          DWV fittings using injection 
                                          molding equipment.


Hartsville, TN      78,000 sq. ft.        Refrigeration products plant.  
                    4.51 acres            Produces products used in 
                                          refrigeration applications such as 
                                          ball valves, line valves, 
                                          compressor valves, and filter 
                                          driers.




    11
North Wales, PA(4)  173,900 sq. ft.       Precision Tube factory.  Facility 
                    18.9 acres            fabricates copper tubing, copper 
                                          alloy tubing, aluminum tubing, and 
                                          fabricated tubular products.


Salisbury, MD(4)    12,000 sq. ft.(2)     Coaxial cable plant.  Facility 
                                          manufactures semi-rigid coaxial 
                                          cable and high-performance cable 
                                          assemblies.


Bilston, England(4) 402,500 sq. ft.       Copper tube mill.  Facility 
United Kingdom      14.95 acres           includes casting, extruding and 
                                          finishing equipment to produce 
                                          copper tubing.


In addition, the Company owns and/or leases other properties used as 
distribution centers and corporate offices.

(1)     Facility is leased under long-term lease agreement, with option to 
        purchase at nominal cost.

(2)     Facility is leased under operating lease.

(3)     Facility is leased under long-term lease agreement, with option to 
        purchase for a stipulated purchase price prior to December 31, 1997.

(4)     Operations acquired subsequent to the fiscal year-ended December 
        28, 1996.


ITEM 3.     LEGAL PROCEEDINGS


     Environmental Proceedings

     Reference is made to "Environmental Matters" in Item 1 of this Report, 
which is incorporated herein by reference, for a description of 
environmental proceedings.


ITEM 4.     SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS


     None.












    12
PART II


ITEM 5.     MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS


     The information required by Item 5 of this Report is included under 
the caption "Capital Stock Information" in the Registrant's Annual Report 
to Stockholders for the year ended December 28, 1996, which information is 
incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 6.     SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA


     Selected financial data are included under the caption "Selected 
Financial Data" in the Registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders for the 
year ended December 28, 1996, which selected financial data is incorporated 
herein by reference.


ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


     Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and 
results of operations is contained under the caption "Financial Review" in 
the Registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 
28, 1996 and is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 8.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA


     See Index to Financial Statements and Supplemental Financial 
Information of this Annual Report on Form 10-K which is incorporated herein 
by reference.


ITEM 9.     CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE


     None.


PART III


ITEM 10.     DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT


     The information required by Item 10 is contained under the caption 
"Ownership of Common Stock by Directors and Officers and Information about 
Director Nominees" in the Company's Proxy Statement for its 1997 Annual 
Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission on or about March 18, 1997 and is incorporated herein by 
reference.
    13
ITEM 11.     EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION


     The information required by Item 11 is contained under the caption 
"Executive Compensation" in the Company's Proxy Statement for its 1997 
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission on or about March 18, 1997 and is incorporated herein by 
reference.


ITEM 12.     SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT


     The information required by Item 12 is contained under the captions 
"Principal Stockholders" and "Ownership of Common Stock by Directors and 
Officers and Information about Director Nominees" in the Company's Proxy 
Statement for its 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission on or about March 18, 1997 and is 
incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 13.     CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS


     The information required by Item 13 is contained under the caption 
"Certain Relationships and Transactions with Management" in the Company's 
Proxy Statement for its 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about March 18, 1997 and 
is incorporated herein by reference.


PART IV


ITEM 14.     EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 
8-K


(a)    The following documents are filed as part of this report:

1.     Financial Statements: the financial statements, notes, and report of 
       independent auditors described in Item 8 of this report,  which are 
       incorporated by reference.

2.     Financial Statement Schedule: the financial statement schedule 
       described in Item 8 of this report which is incorporated herein by  
       reference.

3.     Exhibits:

       3.1     Certificate of Incorporation of Mueller Industries, Inc. and 
               all amendments thereto (Incorporated herein by reference to 
               Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K 
               dated December 28, 1990).

       3.2     By-laws of Mueller Industries, Inc., as amended and 
               restated, effective November 10, 1994.  (Incorporated herein 
               by reference to Exhibit 3 (ii) of the Registrant's Current 
               Report on Form 8-K, dated November 14, 1994.)
    14
       4.1     Common Stock Specimen (Incorporated herein by reference to 
               Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K 
               dated December 28, 1990).

       4.2     Rights Agreement, dated as of November 10, 1994, between the 
               Registrant and Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company, 
               as Rights Agent, which includes the Form of Certificate of 
               Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior 
               Participating Preferred Stock of the Registrant, as Exhibit 
               A, the Form of Rights Certificate, as Exhibit B, and the 
               Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock, as Exhibit C.  
               (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the 
               Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated November 14, 
               1994.)

       4.3     Credit Agreement among Mueller Industries, Inc. (as 
               Borrower) and Michigan National Bank (as a Bank) and 
               Michigan National Bank (as Agent) dated as of June 1, 1994. 

       4.4     First Amendment to Credit Agreement among Mueller 
               Industries, Inc. (as Borrower) and Michigan National Bank 
               (as a Bank) and Michigan National Bank (as Agent) dated as 
               of December 14, 1994.

       4.5     Second Amendment to Credit Agreement among Mueller 
               Industries, Inc. (as Borrower) and Michigan National Bank 
               (as a Bank) and Michigan National Bank (as Agent) dated as 
               of June 1, 1995.

       4.6     Third Amendment to Credit Agreement among Mueller 
               Industries, Inc. (as Borrower) and Michigan National Bank 
               (as a Bank) and Michigan National Bank (as Agent) dated as 
               of December 18, 1996.

       4.7     Certain instruments with respect to long-term debt of the 
               Company have not been filed as Exhibits to the Report since 
               the total amount of securities authorized under any such 
               instrument does not exceed 10 percent of the total assets of 
               the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.  
               The Company agrees to furnish a copy of each such instrument 
               upon request of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

      10.1     Employment Agreement, effective October 1, 1991 by and 
               between Mueller Industries, Inc. and Harvey L. Karp 
               (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the 
               Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 
               22, 1991).

      10.2     Stock Option Agreement, dated December 4, 1991 by and 
               between Mueller Industries, Inc. and Harvey L. Karp 
               (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the 
               Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 22, 
               1991).

      10.3     Mueller Industries, Inc. 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan 
               (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(a) of the 
               Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 dated June 
               28, 1991).

    15
      10.4     Mueller Industries, Inc. 1991 Incentive Stock Option Plan 
               (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(a) of the 
               Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 dated April 
               17, 1992).

      10.5     Employment Agreement, effective June 3, 1992 by and between 
               Mueller Industries, Inc. and William D. O'Hagan 
               (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the 
               Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 
               3, 1992).

      10.6     Summary description of the Registrant's 1997 bonus plan for 
               certain key employees.

      10.7     Amendment to Employment Agreement, effective January 1, 
               1994, to Employment Agreement by and between Mueller 
               Industries, Inc. and Harvey L. Karp.  (Incorporated herein 
               by reference to Exhibit 10.28 of the Registrant's Report on 
               Form 10-K, dated March 23, 1994, for the fiscal year 
               ended December 25, 1993.)

      10.8     Employment Agreement, effective as of January 1, 1994, by 
               and between Mueller Industries, Inc. and William D. O'Hagan.  
               (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.29 of the 
               Registrant's Report on Form 10-K, dated March 23, 1994, for 
               the fiscal year ended December 25, 1993.)

      10.9     Amendment to Employment Agreement, effective as of August 
               10, 1995, by and between Mueller Industries, Inc. and 
               William D. O'Hagan.  (Incorporated herein by reference to 
               Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant's Report on Form 10-
               Q, dated October 20, 1995, for the quarter ended September 
               30, 1995.)

     10.10     Mueller Industries, Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan.  
               (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 of the 
               Registrant's Report on Form 10-K, dated March 17, 1995, for 
               the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994.)

     10.11     Mueller Industries, Inc. 1994 Non-Employee Director Stock 
               Option Plan. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 
               10.14 of the Registrant's Report on Form 10-K, dated March 
               17, 1995, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994.)

     10.12     Mueller Industries, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, 
               effective January 1, 1997.

      13.0     Mueller Industries, Inc.'s Annual Report to Stockholders for 
               the year ended December 28, 1996.  Such report, except to 
               the extent incorporated herein by reference, is being 
               furnished for the information of the Securities and Exchange 
               Commission only and is not to be deemed filed as a part of 
               this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

      21.0     Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

      23.0     Consent of Independent Auditor.  (Includes report on  
               Supplemental Financial Information.)

    16
(b)    During the three months ended December 28, 1996, no Current 
       Reports on Form 8-K were filed.

SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be 
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on 
March 20, 1997.

MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

   /s/  HARVEY L. KARP
   Harvey L. Karp, Chairman of the Board


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the 
Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

     Signature             Title                                Date

/S/HARVEY L. KARP        Chairman of the Board, and Director March 20, 1997
   Harvey L. Karp

/S/ROBERT B. HODES       Director                            March 20, 1997
   Robert B. Hodes

/S/ALLAN MACTIER         Director                            March 20, 1997
   Allan Mactier

/S/WILLIAM D. O'HAGAN    President, Chief Executive Officer, March 20, 1997
   William D. O'Hagan    Director

/S/ROBERT J. PASQUARELLI Director                            March 20, 1997
   Robert J. Pasquarelli

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this 
report has been signed below by the following person on behalf of the 
Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

     Signature and Title                    Date

   /S/ EARL W. BUNKERS                    March 20, 1997
   Earl W. Bunkers
   Executive Vice President
   Chief Financial Officer
   (Principal Accounting Officer)

   /S/  KENT A. MCKEE                     March 20, 1997
   Kent A. McKee
   Vice President Business Development/
   Investor Relations

   /S/  RICHARD W. CORMAN                 March 20, 1997
   Richard W. Corman
   Director of Corporate Accounting

    17
                        INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     The consolidated financial statements, together with the report 
thereon of Ernst & Young LLP dated February 7, 1997 (except for the second 
paragraph of Note 12, as to which the date is February 28, 1997), appearing 
on page 16 through and including 41, of the Company's 1996 Annual Report to 
Stockholders are incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 
10-K.  With the exception of the aforementioned information, no other 
information appearing in the 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders is deemed 
to be filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under Item 8.  The 
following Consolidated Financial Statement Schedule should be read in 
conjunction with the consolidated financial statements in such 1996 Annual 
Report to Stockholders.  Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules not 
included with this Annual Report on Form 10-K have been omitted because 
they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the 
consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.


                      SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION


                                                            Page

Schedule for the fiscal years ended December 28, 1996, 
December 30, 1995, and December 31, 1994.

     Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Schedule II)          18

































     18
MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.
SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
Years Ended December 28, 1996, December 30, 1995, and December 31, 1994
(In thousands)



                                                                         Additions
                                                              -------------------------------
                                          Balance at           Charged to                                                Balance
                                          beginning            costs and             Other                               at end
                                           of year              expenses           Additions         Deductions          of year
                                         ------------         ------------        -----------       -----------       -----------
                                                                                                       
1996
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts          $      2,986         $        435        $         -       $       233       $     3,188

Environmental Reserves                   $      9,585         $      2,045        $         -       $     2,525       $     9,105

Other Reserves (2)                       $     10,051         $        828        $         -       $       511       $    10,368

Valuation Allowance for Deferred
  Tax Assets                             $     60,921         $          -        $         -       $     4,622       $    56,299

1995
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts          $      3,336         $         75        $         -       $       425       $     2,986

Environmental Reserves                   $     11,178         $      1,421        $         -       $     3,014       $     9,585

Other Reserves (2)                       $     16,150         $     (1,157)       $         -       $     4,942       $    10,051

Valuation Allowance for Deferred
  Tax Assets                             $     65,927         $          -        $         -       $     5,006       $    60,921

1994
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts          $      3,495         $        186        $         -       $       345       $     3,336

Environmental Reserves                   $     10,448         $      2,914        $       125  (1)  $     2,309       $    11,178

Other Reserves (2)                       $     15,508         $      4,062        $      (125) (1)  $     3,295       $    16,150

Valuation Allowance for Deferred
  Tax Assets                             $     85,338         $          -        $         -       $    19,411       $    65,927


<FN>

(1)   Reclass from Other Reserves to Environmental Reserves.

(2)   Other reserves are included in the balance sheet captions "Other
      current liabilities" and "Other noncurrent liabilities."









    19
                            EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibits       Description                                              Page

4.3        Credit Agreement among Mueller Industries, Inc. 
           (as Borrower) and Michigan National Bank (as a 
           Bank) and Michigan National Bank (as Agent) dated 
           as of June 1, 1994.

4.4        First Amendment to Credit Agreement among Mueller 
           Industries, Inc. (as Borrower) and Michigan 
           National Bank (as a Bank) and Michigan National 
           Bank (as Agent) dated as of December 14, 1994.

4.5        Second Amendment to Credit Agreement among Mueller 
           Industries, Inc. (as Borrower) and Michigan 
           National Bank (as a Bank) and Michigan National 
           Bank (as Agent) dated as of June 1, 1995.

4.6        Third Amendment to Credit Agreement among Mueller 
           Industries, Inc. (as Borrower) and Michigan 
           National Bank (as a Bank) and Michigan National 
           Bank (as Agent) dated as of December 18, 1996.

4.7        Certain instruments with respect to long-term debt 
           of the Company have not been filed as Exhibits to 
           the Report since the total amount of securities 
           authorized under any such instrument does not 
           exceed 10 percent of the total assets of the 
           company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated 
           basis.  The Company agrees to furnish a copy of 
           each such instrument upon request of the 
           Securities and Exchange Commission.

10.6       Summary description of the Registrant's 1997 bonus 
           plan for certain key employees.

10.12      Mueller Industries, Inc. Deferred Compensation 
           Plan, effective January 1, 1997.

13.0       Mueller Industries, Inc.'s Annual Report to 
           Stockholders for the year ended December 28, 1996.  
           Such report, except to the extent incorporated 
           herein by reference, is being furnished for the 
           information of the Securities and Exchange 
           Commission only and is not to be deemed filed as a 
           part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

21.0       Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

23.0       Consent of Independent Auditor.  (Includes report 
           on Supplemental Financial Information.)