8-K

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

                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 15, 2003

                         Commission File Number 1-14959

                                BRADY CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         Wisconsin                                      39-0971239
 (State of Incorporation)                      (IRS Employer Identification No.)

                            6555 West Good Hope Road
                           Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53223
              (Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)


                                 (414) 358-6600
                         (Registrant's Telephone Number)





Item 5.  OTHER EVENTS AND REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.
On December 15, 2003, Brady Corporation (the "Company") issued a press release
announcing that David Mathieson has been named Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer. Mr. Mathieson succeeds David Schroeder as Chief Financial
Officer, Mr. Schroeder has decided to leave the Company to become the Chief
Executive Officer of Intermatic, Inc., Spring Grove, Illinois on January 1,
2004.

A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.


Item 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c)  Exhibits:

The following Exhibits are filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K:

Exhibit No.

99.1     Press Release dated December 15, 2003.

                                   SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                             BRADY CORPORATION
                                             (Registrant)

Date: December 15, 2003                      /s/ Frank M. Jaehnert
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Frank M. Jaehnert
                                             President and Chief Executive
                                             Officer








                                 Exhibit Index


Exhibit No.             Description
- -----------             -----------

   99.1                 Press Release dated December 15, 2003.

EX-99.1

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1


BRADY CORPORATION NAMES DAVID MATHIESON VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER

MILWAUKEE (December 15, 2003)--Brady Corporation (NYSE:BRC), a world leader in
identification solutions, announced today that David Mathieson has been named
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

         Mathieson, 49, joined Brady in 2001 as European Finance Director, based
in the U.K. In August this year, he was appointed Vice President of Finance for
North America. Mathieson succeeds David Schroeder who is leaving Brady after 12
years to become CEO of Intermatic, Inc., Spring Grove, Ill., on January 1, 2004.

         Prior to joining Brady, Mathieson was Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of Honeywell Europe, concluding a 20-year career with
Honeywell International, Inc., which included positions in Belgium, Denmark,
England and the United States. A native of Scotland, he is a Fellow of the
Chartered Management Accountants Institute in the United Kingdom and studied for
this qualification at Glasgow College of Commerce and Glasgow Caledonian
University.

         "I am looking forward to supporting the various business segments at
Brady and working with our strong finance team to further grow the company,"
said Mathieson.

          "David Mathieson brings a keen business sense, a demonstrated focus on
profitability, and an excitement for Brady's future to the role of CFO," said
Frank M. Jaehnert, Brady president and chief executive officer. "His broad
international experience and strong financial expertise will provide valuable
support for our growth initiatives."

         Brady Corporation is an international manufacturer and marketer of
complete identification solutions and specialty materials, with products
including high-performance labels and signs, printing systems and software,
label-application and data-collection systems, safety devices and precision
die-cut materials for electronics, telecommunication, manufacturing, electrical,
construction, education and a variety of other markets. Founded in 1914, Brady
is headquartered in Milwaukee and employs more than 3,400 people in operations
in the United States, Europe, Asia/Pacific, Latin America and Canada. Brady's
fiscal 2003 sales were approximately $555 million. More information is available
on the Internet at www.bradycorp.com.

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