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: June 1, 1999                   Commission file number: 0-16214

                           ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
                           --------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



         Delaware                                       14-0462060
         --------                                       ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of             (IRS Employer Identification Number)
 incorporation or organization)

   1373 Broadway, Albany, New York                              12204
   -------------------------------                              -----
(Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  518-445-2200



Item 5.           Other Events
- -------           ------------

Albany International Corp. is filing herewith a press release as Exhibit 99.1
which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.           Financial Statements and Exhibits
- -------           ---------------------------------


Exhibit No.       Description
- -----------       -----------
   99.1           Press Release


                                   SIGNATURES


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 thereunto duly authorized.









                           ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
                           --------------------------
                                  (Registrant)


Date:  June 1, 1999


                             By /s/ Michael C. Nahl
                             ----------------------
                                 Michael C. Nahl
                             Sr. Vice President and
                             Chief Financial Officer


                                  Exhibit 99.1

                                  Press Release


                                  For additional information contact:
                                  Kenneth C. Pulver
                                  Vice President, Corporate Communications
                                  (518) 445-2214

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                ALBANY INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES MAJOR ACQUISITION

         Albany,   New  York,  May  26,  1999  -  Albany   International   Corp.
(NYSE/PSE:AIN)  announced  today  that it has agreed to  purchase  shares of the
paper machine clothing  businesses of the Geschmay group for approximately  $232
million in cash.  The  corporations  to be acquired had aggregate  1998 sales of
approximately  $160 million and are part of a group of  family-owned  companies.
Geschmay's  principal  operations  are located in Europe and the United  States.
Geschmay is recognized as a skillfully  managed and experienced  manufacturer of
innovative  and  quality  products.  The  transaction  is subject  to  necessary
regulatory filings and clearances.
         Francis L. McKone, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of
Albany  International,  stated, "The Geschmay name has been associated with high
quality and technical excellence for many decades, and Albany is very pleased to
be able to combine Geschmay's paper machine clothing  capabilities with our own.
The greater  geographical scope and combined production,  research,  and product
applications  experience resulting from the transaction will permit us to better
serve our combined customers around the world."
         Speaking for the Geschmay  group,  Helmut Mainz,  Chairman,  said, "The
clear trend toward  consolidation  in the paper  industry has created a need for
consolidation  among paper  industry  suppliers as well. We are pleased that the
Geschmay  tradition of excellence can be carried  forward  through a combination
with the world's leading paper machine clothing supplier."
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