-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FCv11kgAeiErbawC98f0VulLEENJyJMLytO7VEGFRVlB+8VxtZG0HimBn8HWUae/
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001187505-08-000001.txt : 20080318
<SEC-HEADER>0001187505-08-000001.hdr.sgml : 20080318
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080318150306
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001187505-08-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080317
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080318
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080318

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 ROGER S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001187505

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04773
		FILM NUMBER:		08696115

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		18 TOMLYN DRIVE
		CITY:			PRINCETON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08540
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7812376655

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AMERICAN BILTRITE INC.
		STREET 2:		57 RIVER ST  STE 302
		CITY:			WELLESLEY HILLS
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02481
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001187505</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARCUS ROGER S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AMERICAN BILTRITE INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>57 RIVER ST  STE 302</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WELLESLEY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02481</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Option to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-03-17</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-03-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option was granted on March 17, 2008 pursuant to American Biltrite Inc.'s 1993 Stock Award and Incentive Plan, as amended for a period of 10 years expiring on March 16, 2018. The options become exercisable in installments of 10,000 options per year for 5 years beginning on March 17, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Henry w. Winkleman Attorney-in-Fact for Roger S. Marcus</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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