UNITED STATES
                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C.  20549


                               SCHEDULE 13G
                              (Rule 13d-102)

          Information Statement Pursuant to Rules 13d-1 and 13d-2
                 Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                          (Amendment No.   4   )*


                           BLACK & DECKER CORP.
                             (Name of Issuer)



                       Common Stock, $0.50 Par Value
                      (Title of Class of Securities)




                                 091797100
                              (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 disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on 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).

CUSIP NO. 091797100


1.
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

Harris Associates  L.P.  04-3276558



2.
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a)
(b)


3.
SEC USE ONLY




4.
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

          Delaware



NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH

5.
SOLE VOTING POWER
None



6.
SHARED VOTING POWER
6,274,680



7.
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,113,980



8.
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
4,160,700



9.
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
6,274,680


10.
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES*


11.
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
7.21%


12.
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IA


                    *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!




CUSIP NO. 091797100


1.
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

Harris Associates  Inc.  04-3276549



2.
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a)
(b)


3.
SEC USE ONLY




4.
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

          Delaware



NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH

5.
SOLE VOTING POWER
None



6.
SHARED VOTING POWER
6,274,680



7.
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,113,980



8.
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
4,160,700



9.
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
6,274,680


10.
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES*


11.
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
7.21%


12.
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
CO


                    *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!





Item 1(a)            Name of Issuer:
                     Black & Decker Corp

     1(b)            Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
                     701 East Joppa Road
                     Towson, Maryland 21286

Item 2(a)            Name of Person Filing:
                     Harris Associates L.P. ("Harris")
                     Harris Associates Inc. ("General Partner")

     2(b)     Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:
                     Both Harris and the General Partner maintain
                     their principal offices at:

                     Two North LaSalle Street, Suite 500
                     Chicago, IL 60602-3790

     2(c)     Citizenship:
                     Harris is a Delaware limited partnership.
                     The General Partner is a Delaware corporation.

     2(d)     Title of Class of Securities:
                     Common Stock, $0.50 Par Value (the "Shares")

     2(e)     CUSIP Number:
                     091797100

Item 3  If this statement if filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b):
                     Not applicable.

Item 4  Ownership (at December 31, 1999):

     4(a)  By reason of advisory and other relationships with the
        person who owns the Shares, Harris may be deemed to be
        the beneficial owner of the following shares:
                     6,274,680

     4(b)     Percent of Class:
                     7.21%



     4(c)     Number of shares as to which such person has:

        (i)   sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
                     None

        (ii)  shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
                     6,274,680

        (iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
                     2,113,980

        (ii)  shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
                     4,160,700

Harris has been granted the power to vote Shares in circumstances it
determines to be appropriate in connection with assisting its advised
clients to whom it renders financial advice in the ordinary course of its
business, by either providing information or advice to the persons having
such power, or by exercising the power to vote.

In addition, Harris serves as investment adviser to the Harris Associates
Investment Trust (the "Trust"), and various of Harris' officers and
directors are also officers and trustees of the Trust.  Harris does not
consider that the Trust is controlled by such persons.  The Trust, through
its various series, owns 4,138,700 Shares, which are included as Shares over
which Harris has shared voting and dispositive power, and thus, as Shares
beneficially owned by Harris because of Harris' power to manage the Trust's
investment.  In addition, Harris serves as investment adviser to a small
number of other clients who may own Shares, but for which Harris does not
have discretionary authority.  Nevertheless, if owned by such clients, these
Shares are included as Shares over which Harris has shared voting and
dispositive power, although Harris may not be deemed the beneficial owner
(as defined in Rule 13d-3) of such shares.


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.

        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 purpose 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.

Dated:  January 10, 2000



                         Harris Associates, Inc., for itself and, as
                         general partner for Harris Associates L.P.


                         By:/s/Anita M. Nagler
                         Anita M. Nagler
                         Vice President