content: <PAGE>
   
                        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) August 21, 1998
                                                          ---------------
  
                              Varian Associates, Inc.
                              -----------------------
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  
          Delaware                     1-7598                    94-2359345
  ---------------------------        ------------            -------------------
  State or Other Jurisdiction        (Commission)             (I.R.S. Employer
      of Incorporation)              File Number)            Identification No.)
  
  
  
         3050 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, CA                   94304-1000
    ----------------------------------------              ----------
    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)              (Zip Code)
  
  
  
        Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (650) 493-4000
                                                           ---------------
  
  
                                   Inapplicable
           -------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
  <PAGE>
   
  Item 5. Other Events.
          ------------
  
          On August 21, 1998, Varian Associates, Inc. (the "Registrant") announced
  a plan, subject to certain conditions, to divide the Registrant into three
  separate public companies. A copy of the Registrant's press release with respect
  to the announcement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99 and incorporated herein by
  reference.
  
  Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
          ------------------------------------------------------------------
  
          (c)     Exhibits
  
  
                  Exhibit
                  Numbers                 Description of Exhibit
                  -------                 ----------------------
  
                    99            Press Release of Varian Associates, Inc. issued 
                                  on August 21, 1998
  
                                         2
  <PAGE>
   
                                    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.
  
  
  
                                  VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC.
  
  
  
  
                                  By: /s/ Joseph B. Phair
                                     -----------------------------------
                                     Name:  Joseph B. Phair
                                     Title: Vice President, General Counsel
                                            and Secretary
  
  
  
  Dated:  August 21, 1998
  
                                         3
  <PAGE>
   
                                   EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  
  Exhibit
  Numbers                         Description of Exhibit
  -------                         ----------------------
  
    99            Press Release of Varian Associates, Inc. issued on 
                  August 21, 1998
  
                                         4
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3447}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "VARIAN ASSOCIATES INC /DE/", "cik": "0000203527", "assigned-sic": "3559", "irs-number": "942359345", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0930"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-07598", "film-number": "98695777"}, "business-address": {"street1": "3050 HANSEN WAY", "street2": "MAIL STOP E 224", "city": "PALO ALTO", "state": "CA", "zip": "94304-1000", "phone": "4154934000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "3050 HANSEN WAY", "street2": "MAIL STOP E 224", "city": "PALO ALTO", "state": "CA", "zip": "94304-1000"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "VARIAN DELAWARE INC", "date-changed": "19761123"}}
text: 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) August 21, 1998
                                                          ---------------
  
                              Varian Associates, Inc.
                              -----------------------
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
          Delaware                     1-7598                    94-2359345
  ---------------------------        ------------            -------------------
  State or Other Jurisdiction        (Commission)             (I.R.S. Employer
      of Incorporation)              File Number)            Identification No.)
  
         3050 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, CA                   94304-1000
    ----------------------------------------              ----------
    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)              (Zip Code)
  
        Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (650) 493-4000
                                                           ---------------
  
                                   Inapplicable
           -------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
  Item 5. Other Events.
          ------------
  
          On August 21, 1998, Varian Associates, Inc. (the "Registrant") announced
  a plan, subject to certain conditions, to divide the Registrant into three
  separate public companies. A copy of the Registrant's press release with respect
  to the announcement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99 and incorporated herein by
  reference.
  
  Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
          ------------------------------------------------------------------
  
          (c)     Exhibits
  
                  Exhibit
                  Numbers                 Description of Exhibit
                  -------                 ----------------------
  
                    99            Press Release of Varian Associates, Inc. issued 
                                  on August 21, 1998
  
                                         2
  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.
  
                                  VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC.
  
                                  By: /s/ Joseph B. Phair
                                     -----------------------------------
                                     Name:  Joseph B. Phair
                                     Title: Vice President, General Counsel
                                            and Secretary
  
  Dated:  August 21, 1998
  
                                         3
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit
  Numbers                         Description of Exhibit
  -------                         ----------------------
  
    99            Press Release of Varian Associates, Inc. issued on 
                  August 21, 1998
  
                                         4