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)   January 14, 1998
                                                         ------------------



                            THE B.F.GOODRICH COMPANY
               --------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)



New York                           1-892                          34-0252680
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other                (Commission                      (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of               File Number)                   Identification No.)
incorporation)



            4020 Kinross Lakes Parkway, Richfield, Ohio         44286-9368
            --------------------------------------------------------------
             (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)



       Registrant's telephone number, including area code     330-659-7600
                                                              ------------



                                 Not Applicable
          ---------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address,  if changed since last report.)




<PAGE>




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


        The B.F.Goodrich Company announced today that it had signed a definitive
agreement to acquire Freedom Chemical Company for approximately $375 million  in
cash.  A press release describing this announcement is filed as Exhibit 99.




                                    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.


                                                THE B.F.GOODRICH COMPANY




                                                By /s/Nicholas J. Calise
                                                -----------------------------
                                                Nicholas J. Calise, Secretary



Dated:   January 14, 1998
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "GOODRICH B F CO", "cik": "0000042542", "assigned-sic": "2800", "irs-number": "340252680", "state-of-incorporation": "NY", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "333-40291", "film-number": "98506560"}, "business-address": {"street1": "4020 KINROSS LAKES PKWY", "city": "RICHFIELD", "state": "OH", "zip": "44286-9368", "phone": "2166597600"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "4020 KINROSS LAKES PARKWAY", "city": "RICHFIELD", "state": "OH", "zip": "44286-9368"}}
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)   January 14, 1998
                                                         ------------------

                            THE B.F.GOODRICH COMPANY
               --------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

New York                           1-892                          34-0252680
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other                (Commission                      (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of               File Number)                   Identification No.)
incorporation)

            4020 Kinross Lakes Parkway, Richfield, Ohio         44286-9368
            --------------------------------------------------------------
             (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code     330-659-7600
                                                              ------------

                                 Not Applicable
          ---------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address,  if changed since last report.)
Item 5.    Other Events
-------    ------------

        The B.F.Goodrich Company announced today that it had signed a definitive
agreement to acquire Freedom Chemical Company for approximately $375 million  in
cash.  A press release describing this announcement is filed as Exhibit 99.

                                    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.

                                                THE B.F.GOODRICH COMPANY

                                                By /s/Nicholas J. Calise
                                                -----------------------------
                                                Nicholas J. Calise, Secretary

Dated:   January 14, 1998