<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-10-28</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000916459</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GARDNER DENVER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GDI</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001130145</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BARGER DONALD G JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O YELLOW CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>10990 ROE AVENUE (MS A1030)</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OVERLAND PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KS</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>66211-1213</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Phantom Stk Units</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-10-24</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>25.4</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>22.95</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stk</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>25.4</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>25.4</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Phantom Stk Units</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-10-24</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>29.0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>22.95</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stk</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>29.0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>29.0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> The cash value of these units will be distributed to the director or beneficiary on the first day of the month following the date upon which the director ceases to be a director of the Company for any reason, (or in no more than twelve installments beginning on the aforementioned date) pursuant to the Company's Phantom Stock Plan for Outside Directors (the &quot;Phantom Plan&quot;).</footnote>

      <footnote id="F2"> These phantom stock units were accrued under the Phantom Plan as a result of an election by the reporting person to defer compensation.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F3"> The security converts to common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <remarks>Tracy D. Pagliara, Attorney-in-fact for Donald G. Barger, Jr., pursuant to Power of Attorney dated September 24, 2002 and filed with the SEC on October 2, 2002.</remarks>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ Donald G. Barger, Jr.</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-10-28</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

