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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HavLKVaLRhy/Si3tzkD7NUiZ0Qy2ytabE+c7UxEQ9/cQIS0mjGGYsoKAOD3LR7wa
 DhGTB206ABoACWUBC1zlug==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000902131-04-000001.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0000902131-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105151050
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000902131-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TIMKEN CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000098362
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BALL & ROLLER BEARINGS [3562]
		IRS NUMBER:				340577130
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1835 DUEBER AVE SW
		CITY:			CANTON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44706-2798
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3304713078

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TIMKEN ROLLER BEARING CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710304

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TIMKEN WILLIAM ROBERT JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000902131

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-01169
		FILM NUMBER:		04504276

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		236 THIRD STREET SW
		CITY:			CANTON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44702
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3304555281

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		236 THIRD STREET SW
		CITY:			CANTON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44702
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000098362</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TIMKEN CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TKR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000902131</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TIMKEN WILLIAM ROBERT JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE TIMKEN COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1835 DUEBER AVENUE, S.W.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CANTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44706</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>1</isOther><otherText>Chairman of the Board</otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2559</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>286437</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><va
lue/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>962</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>20.095</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>285475</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securi
tyTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>962</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>286437</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType
><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>962</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>20.095</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>285475</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>513</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Sav
ings Inv. Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>51575</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Spouse</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>44498</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Co-Trustee</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><
postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>44498</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Co-Trustee</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>44498</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Co-Trustee</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>44498</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIn
directOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Co-Trustee</value><footnoteId id="F6"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>24000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Co-Trustee</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Co-Trustee</value><footnoteId id="F8"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature><
/nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>557500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Co-Trustee</value><footnoteId id="F9"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Restricted Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F10"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2559</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerSh
are><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F10"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F10"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2559</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Reflects a transaction involving the issuance of 2,559 shares to ex-spouse pursuant to a Judgment Entry, Decree of Divorce, issued on December 4, 1997 in payment of deferred dividend credits on employee stock options which became payable at the rate of one share
 for each dividend credit on January 2, 2004.  The reporting person had no pecuniary interest in the 1,597 shares not reported.</footnote><footnote id="F2">DISCLAIMER:  Undersigned disclaims any beneficial ownership.</footnote><footnote id="F3">By self as Co-Trustee for W.R. Timken Trust IV FBO Kristin Cole Timken.   DISCLAIMER:  Undersigned disclaims any beneficial ownership.</footnote><footnote id="F4">By self as Co-Trustee for W.R. Timken Trust V FBO Henry H. Timken II.   DISCLAIMER:  Undersigned disclaims any beneficial ownership.</footnote><footnote id="F5">By self as Co-Trustee for W.R. Timken Trust VI FBO W.R. Timken III.  DISCLAIMER:  Undersigned disclaims any beneficial ownership.</footnote><footnote id="F6">By self as Co-Trustee for W.R. Timken Trust VII FBO Mark P. Timken.   DISCLAIMER:  Undersigned disclaims any beneficial ownership.</footnote><footnote id="F7">By self as Co-Trustee for W.R. Timken Trust FBO Great Grandchildren.   DISCLAIMER:  Undersigned disclaims any beneficial ownership.</foot
note><footnote id="F8">By self as Co-Trustee for Riley Roux Timken Irrevocable Trust.   DISCLAIMER:  Undersigned disclaims any beneficial ownership.</footnote><footnote id="F9">By self as Co-Trustee for Trust U/Will of H.H. Timken, Jr. </footnote><footnote id="F10">Reflects the issuance of shares in payment of deferred dividend credits on employee stock options which became payable at the rate of one share for each dividend credit on January 2, 2004.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>W.R. Timken, Jr</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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