Rule 424(b)(2)
                                    Registration Statement No. 33-53807
 
PRICING SUPPLEMENT No. 18, dated December 14, 1994
to Prospectus, dated August 30, 1994

                        The Black & Decker Corporation
                          Medium-Term Notes, Series A
                                (Floating Rate)
 
           With Maturities of Nine Months or More From Date of Issue
 
 
 Issue Price: 100%                      Form:
 Initial Interest Rate:                 [X]  Book Entry     [_]  Certificated
   6 month LIBOR +0.70%
   on December 16, 1994

 Original Issue Date:                   Interest Rate Basis:
   December 20, 1994                       (Check One)
 Stated Maturity:  December 20, 2001    [_]  CD Rate
 Maximum Interest Rate:  N/A            [_]  Commercial Paper Rate
 Minimum Interest Rate:  N/A            [X]  LIBOR
 Spread Multiplier:  N/A                    [X]  LIBOR Reuters
 Spread: (+/-)  +0.70%                      [ ]  LIBOR Telerate    
 Index Maturity:  6 months              [_]  Eleventh District Cost of
                                             Funds Rate
 Calculation Date(s):                   [_]  CMT Rate
   As set forth in the Pricing          [_]  J.J. Kenny Rate
   Supplement dated September 9, 1994   [_]  Treasury Rate
 Calculation Agent: Marine Midland Bank [_]  Federal Funds Effective Rate    
 Agent's Commission: 0.60 %             [_]  Prime Rate
 Repurchase Price                       [_]  Other__________ (see attached)
    (For Discount Securities):  N/A    
 

 Interest Rate Reset Period:            Currency or Currency Unit:
   Semi-Annually                         (Check one; if other than U.S.
 Interest Reset Dates:                    Dollars, see attached)
   Semi-Annually on June 20 
   and December 20                     [X]  U.S. Dollars (USD or U.S.$)
 Interest Payment Dates:               [_]  European Currency Units (ECU)
   Semi-Annually on June 20            [_]  Australian Dollars (AUD or AUS$) 
   and December 20 beginning           [_]  British Pound (GBP or UK(Pounds))
   beginning June 20, 1995             [_]  Canadian Dollars (CAD or CAN$)
 Regular Record Dates:                 [_]  German Marks (DEM or DM)
   15th day next preceding Interest    [_]  Italian Lire (ITL or Lire)
   Payment Date                        [_]  Japanese Yen (JPY or (Yen))
 Interest Determination Dates:         [_]  Swiss Francs (CHF or SWFr)
   2 Market Days prior to Interest     [_]  Other__________
   Payment Date                        
 Redemption Information:  N/A
 Currency Determination Agent:  N/A
 Repayment Information:  N/A
 Other Provisions: Agent is
 First Chicago Capital Market, Inc.

  The aggregate principal amount of this offering is U.S. $7,500,000
  (which, if the securities offered hereby are denominated in a currency or
  currency unit other than U.S. dollars, is the equivalent, in the
  currency units set forth herein, of the principal amount set forth
  herein at the Exchange Rate set forth herein) and relates only to
  Pricing Supplement No. 18. Debt Securities, including Medium-Term Notes,
  Series A, may be issued by the Company in an aggregate initial
  offering price of up to U.S. $500,000,000 or the equivalent in foreign
  currency or currency units. To date, including this offering, an
  aggregate of U.S. $151,750,000 or the equivalent in foreign currency or 
  foreign currency units of Medium-Term Notes, Series A, and all other Debt
  Securities, has been issued.
 
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 Type of Sale:         If Principal Transaction, reoffering at:
  [X]  As Agent           [_]  varying prices related to prevailing market 
  [_]  As Principal            prices at the time of resale
                          [_]  fixed public offering price of __% of Principal 
                               Amount
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