-----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,
 OIH6Svu0QHBEP+daI95yI2wDlcORiJBqQhni1tYJrHMCdLt/b7u7KlAlBCrMN4kP
 uI2zc4GM/xK6a7qvPP//xw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000923866-08-000001.txt : 20081222
<SEC-HEADER>0000923866-08-000001.hdr.sgml : 20081222
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081222165039
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000923866-08-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081219
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081222
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081222

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN BILTRITE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000004611
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PLASTICS PRODUCTS, NEC [3089]
		IRS NUMBER:				041701350
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		57 RIVER STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 302
		CITY:			WELLESLEY HILLS
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02481
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172376655

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		57 RIVER STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 302
		CITY:			WELLESLEY HILLS
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02481

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERICAN BILTRITE RUBBER CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19730621

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARCUS NATALIE S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000923866

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04773
		FILM NUMBER:		081264343

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6 HIGHLAND RD
		CITY:			PRINCETON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08540
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6099245557

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		57 RIVER ST
		STREET 2:		C/O AMERICAN BILTRITE INC
		CITY:			WELLESLEY HILLS
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02181

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MARCUS NATALIE S ET AL
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940525
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000004611</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN BILTRITE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000923866</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARCUS NATALIE S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>57 RIVER ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>C/O AMERICAN BILTRITE INC</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WELLESLEY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02481</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20268</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.05</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>754355</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Henry W. Winkleman Attorney-in-Fact for Natalie S. Marcus</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----