<?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>0001188213</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HANSEN FRANK J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>GARDNER DENVER, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1800 GARDNER EXPRESSWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>QUINCY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>62301</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="F2"/>
      </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>
 </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"> The security converts to common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <remarks>Tracy D. Pagliara, Attorney-in-fact for Frank J. Hansen, pursuant to Power of Attorney dated September 3, 2002 and filed with the SEC on October 2, 2002.</remarks>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ Frank J. Hansen</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-10-28</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

