Registration No. 333-76345
         As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
                            on May 28, 1999


                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                         Washington D.C. 20549


                               FORM S-8
                     REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                      THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                             NORTEK, INC.
          (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

               Delaware                           05-0314991
      (State or other jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer
      incorporation or organization)              Identification No.)

         50 Kennedy Plaza, Providence, Rhode Island     02903
         (Address of Principal Executive Offices)      (Zip Code)

           NORTEK, INC. 1999 EQUITY AND CASH INCENTIVE PLAN
                        (Full title of the plan)

                                             Copy to
          Richard L. Bready, Chairman        Kevin W. Donnelly, Esq.
          Nortek, Inc., 50 Kennedy Plaza     Nortek, Inc., 50 Kennedy Plaza
          Providence, Rhode Island 02903     Providence, Rhode Island 02903
                (Name and address of agent for service)

                            (401) 751-1600
     (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                    CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

   Title of      Amount to   Proposed      Proposed     Amount of
 Securities to      be        Maximum      Maximum    Registration
      be        Registered   Offering     Aggregate        Fee
  Registered        (1)      Price Per     Offering
                             Share(2)      Price(2)
Common Stock,
Par Value $1.00   575,000     $30.25     $17,161,581    $4,771(2)
Per Share (1)


(1)     Persons  eligible  to  receive  awards  under  the  Plan  being
  registered  hereunder  (the "Plan") may  receive  shares  of  or  may
  receive  options  to  purchase shares of Special  Common  Stock,  par
  value  $1.00 per share, which are convertible into Common Stock.   No
  more than 575,000 shares of Common Stock and Special Common Stock  in
  the  aggregate  may  be  issued. There is also  registered  hereunder
  575,000  attached Rights to purchase one one-hundredth of a share  of
  Series A Participating Preference Stock of the Company.
(2)        Outstanding  options  on the date  hereof  have  a  weighted
  average  exercise price of $29.5625 and a maximum aggregate  offering
  price  of  $9,983,256.  The registration fee payable with respect  to
  such  options  is  $2,775.  There are 237,300  shares  available  for
  grant  under  the  Plan, at exercise prices still to  be  determined.
  For  the purpose of determining the registration fee, the maximum per
  share  and  aggregate offering prices have been determined,  pursuant
  to  Rule  457(h)  of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  on  the
  basis  of the average of the high and low prices of the Common  Stock
  reported  on  the  New  York Stock Exchange on  May  25,  1999.   The
  registration  fee  for  the  shares not yet  subject  to  outstanding
  options is $1,996.  The total registration fee payable in respect  of
  the shares being registered hereunder is $4,771.

                       Exhibit Index on Page 7.

<PAGE>

                                Part II

          INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.   Incorporation of Documents by Reference

      Nortek,  Inc.  (the "Company") hereby incorporates the  following
documents by reference:

     (a)  The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
       December 31, 1998 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
       (the "Commission") on March 30, 1999.

     (b)  The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
       April 3, 1999 filed with the Commission on May 18, 1999.

     (c)   The  Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K  filed  with  the
       Commission  on  January 11, 1999, March    10,  1999,  April  8,
       1999, April 23, 1999 and April 26, 1999.

     (d)   All  other reports filed by the Company with the  Commission
       pursuant  to  Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of  the  Securities
       Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") since the end  of  the
       fiscal  year covered by the Company's Annual Report referred  to
       above.

      The  description of the Company's Common Stock contained  in  its
registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission  on  April
23,  1981  and  the description of the Company's Special  Common  Stock
contained  in  its registration statement on Form 8-A  filed  with  the
Commission on November 25, 1986.

      All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company
pursuant  to  Sections 13(a) and (c), 14 and 15(d)  of  the  Securities
Exchange  Act  of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), prior  to  the
filing   of  a  post-effective  amendment  which  indicates  that   all
securities  offered  hereby have been sold  or  which  deregisters  all
securities  remaining  unsold, shall be deemed to  be  incorporated  by
reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of
such reports and documents.

Item 4.   Description of Securities

     Not applicable.

Item 5.   Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

      The  validity  of  the shares of Common Stock (and  the  attached
Rights) and Special Common Stock offered hereby is being passed upon by
Kevin W. Donnelly, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the
Company.   Mr.  Donnelly owns 27,007 shares of Common Stock  (including
18,914  shares subject to exercisable options) and 10 shares of Special
Common Stock.

Item 6.   Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

      Section  145  of  the Delaware General Corporation  Law  ("DGCL")
provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was  or  is  a
party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed  action,  suit  or  proceeding  whether  civil,  criminal  or
investigative  (other  than  an action  by  or  in  the  right  of  the
corporation)  by  reason of the fact that he  is  or  was  a  director,
officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving  at
the  request  of  the corporation as a director, officer,  employee  or
agent  of  another  corporation, partnership, joint venture,  trust  or
other   enterprise,  against  expenses  (including  attorneys'   fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred  by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding  if
he  acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in
or  not  opposed  to the best interests of the corporation,  and,  with
respect  to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable  cause
to believe his conduct was unlawful.  Section 145 further provides that
a  corporation similarly may indemnify any

<PAGE>

such person serving  in  any
such capacity who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party
to  any  threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or  in  the
right  of  the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor,  against
expenses  actually  and  reasonably incurred  in  connection  with  the
defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good  faith
in  a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests  of the corporation and except that no indemnification  shall
be  made  in  respect of any claim, issue or matter as  to  which  such
person  shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless
and  only  to  the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery  or  such
other  court  in which such action or suit was brought shall  determine
upon  application  that, despite the adjudication of liability  but  in
view  of  all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly  and
reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the  Court  of
Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

      Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to include in
its  certificate of incorporation a provision eliminating  or  limiting
the  personal  liability  of  a director  to  the  corporation  or  its
stockholders  for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary  duty  as  a
director, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the
liability  of a director (i) for any breach of the director's  duty  of
loyalty  to  the  corporation or its stockholders,  (ii)  for  acts  or
omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct  or
a  knowing  violation  of  law, (iii) under Section  174  of  the  DGCL
(relating to unlawful payment of dividends and unlawful stock  purchase
and  redemption)  or (iv) for any transaction from which  the  director
derived an improper personal benefit.

      The  Company's  Certificate of Incorporation  provides  that  its
directors  shall  not be liable to the Company or its stockholders  for
monetary  damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director except  to
the extent that exculpation from liabilities is not permitted under the
DGCL  as  in  effect  at the time such liability  is  determined.   The
Company's  By-Laws further provide that Registrant shall indemnify  its
directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.

      The  directors  and  officers of the Company  are  covered  under
directors' and officers' liability insurance policies maintained by the
Company.

Item 7.   Exemption From Registration Claimed

     Not applicable.

Item 8.   Exhibits

      Exhibits  marked  with  an  asterisk  are  filed  herewith.   The
remainder  of  the  exhibits  have  heretofore  been  filed  with   the
Commission and are incorporated herein by reference:

Exhibit Number

*4.1 Nortek, Inc. 1999 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan.

4.2  Indenture  dated as of February 14, 1994 between the  Company  and
     State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee, relating to the 9
     7/8%  Senior Subordinated Notes due March 1, 2004 (Exhibit 4.5  to
     Form 10-K filed March 25, 1994, File No. 1-6112).

4.3  Indenture dated as of March 17, 1997 between the Company and State
     Street  Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee relating to  the  9.25%
     Series A and Series B Senior Notes due March 15, 2007 (Exhibit 4.2
     to Registration Statement No. 333-25505 filed April 18, 1997).

<PAGE>

4.4  Indenture  dated  as of August 26, 1997 between  the  Company  and
     State  Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee relating  to  the
     9.125% Series A and B Senior Notes due September 1,2007.  (Exhibit
     4.1  to  Registration Statement No. 333-36711 filed September  30,
     1997).

4.5  Indenture dated as of July 31, 1998 between the Company and  State
     Street  Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee relating to the  8.875%
     Series  A  and B Senior Notes due August 1, 2008 (Exhibit  4.1  to
     Registration Statement No. 333-64731 filed September 30, 1998).

4.6  Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of April  1,
     1996  between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company,
     as Rights Agent (Exhibit 1 to Form 8-K filed April 2, 1996).

*5.       Opinion of Kevin W. Donnelly, Esq.

*23.1     Consent of Kevin W. Donnelly, Esq. (contained in Exhibit 5).

*23.2     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

24.       Power of Attorney (see page 9 of the Registration Statement).

*99.1     Form of Stock Option Certificate.

Item 9.   Undertakings

     (a)  The Company hereby undertakes:

     (1)  to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement,

     (i)  to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
Act,

     (ii)  to  reflect  in the prospectus any facts or  events  arising
after  the  effective date of the registration statement (or  the  most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in  the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set  forth
in the registration statement,

     (iii)     to include any material information with respect to  the
plan  of  distribution  not previously disclosed  in  the  registration
statement   or  any  material  change  to  such  information   in   the
registration statement;

provided,  however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) shall  not
apply  if  the  information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment  by  those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports  filed
with  or furnished to the Commission by the Company pursuant to Section
13  or  Section  15(d)  of the Exchange Act that  are  incorporated  by
reference in the registration statement.

     (2)  that, for the purposes of determining any liability under the
Act,  each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to  be  a  new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,  and
the  offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.

      (3)   to  remove  from registration by means of a  post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
the termination of the offering.

(b)   The  undersigned Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes  of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing
of  the  Company's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a)  or  Section
15(d)  of  the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing  of  an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to

<PAGE>

Section 15(d) of  the
Exchange  Act)  that is incorporated by reference in  the  registration
statement  shall be deemed to be a new registration statement  relating
to  the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at  that  time  shall  be deemed to be the initial bona  fide  offering
thereof.

(c)   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the  Act
may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the
registrant  pursuant  to the foregoing provisions,  or  otherwise,  the
Company  has  been advised that in the opinion of the  Commission  such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in  the  Act  and
is,   therefore,  unenforceable.   In  the  event  that  a  claim   for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Company  of  expenses  incurred  or paid  by  a  director,  officer  or
controlling  person  of the Company in the successful  defense  of  any
action,  suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,  officer  or
controlling  person in connection with the securities being registered,
the  Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter  has
been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

<PAGE>

                              SIGNATURES

      Pursuant  to the requirements of the Securities Act of  1933,  as
amended,  the  Company  certifies that it  has  reasonable  grounds  to
believe  that it meets all of the requirements for filing on  Form  S-8
and  has  duly caused this registration statement to be signed  on  its
behalf  by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the  City  of
Providence, Rhode Island on this 28th day of May, 1999.

                                        NORTEK, INC.


                                        By: /s/ Richard L. Bready
                                              Richard L. Bready
                                              Chairman of the Board

      We, the undersigned officers and directors of the Company, hereby
severally  constitute and appoint Richard L. Bready, Richard J.  Harris
and  Kevin  W. Donnelly, and each of them singly, our true  and  lawful
attorneys  or  attorney  to  execute in our names,  in  the  capacities
indicated  below, any and all amendments to this registration statement
on  Form S-8, and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection
therewith,  and  to file the same with the Commission.   Each  of  said
attorneys  shall have power to act hereunder with or without any  other
of  said  attorneys,  and  shall have full power  of  substitution  and
resubstitution.   Each  of said attorneys shall  have  full  power  and
authority  to do and perform in the name and on behalf of each  of  the
undersigned, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever  requisite
or  necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to  all  intents
and  purposes as each of the undersigned might or could do  in  person,
and  each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the  acts  of
said attorneys and each of them.

      Pursuant  to  the  requirements of  the  Act,  this  registration
statement  has  been  signed  below by the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the date indicated.

     Name                     Title                    Date

/s/  Richard L. Bready    Chairman of the Board of     May 28, 1999
Richard L. Bready         Directors and President
                          (Principal Executive
                          Officer)

/s/Richard  J. Harris     Vice President and           May 28, 1999
Richard J. Harris         Treasurer (Principal
                          Financial Officer) and
                          Director

/s/  Almon  C. Hall       Vice President and           May 28, 1999
Almon C. Hall             Controller (Principal
                          Accounting Officer)

/s/  Phillip  L. Cohen    Director                     May 28, 1999
Phillip L. Cohen

/s/  William  I. Kelly    Director                     May 28, 1999
William I. Kelly

/s/ J. Peter Lyons        Director                     May 28, 1999
J. Peter Lyons

<PAGE>
                        EXHIBIT INDEX

      Exhibits  marked with an asterisk are filed  herewith.
The  remainder  of the exhibits have heretofore  been  filed
with   the   Commission  and  are  incorporated  herein   by
reference:

Exhibit Number

*4.1 Nortek, Inc. 1999 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan.

4.2  Indenture  dated  as of February 14, 1994  between  the
     Company  and  State Street Bank and Trust  Company,  as
     Trustee,  relating  to the 9 7/8%  Senior  Subordinated
     Notes  due  2004 (Exhibit 4.5 to Form 10-K filed  March
     25, 1994, File No. 1-6112).

4.3  Indenture  dated  as  of March  17,  1997  between  the
     Company  and  State Street Bank and Trust  Company,  as
     Trustee  relating to the 9.25% Series A  and  Series  B
     Senior  Notes  due  March  15,  2007  (Exhibit  4.2  to
     Registration  Statement No. 333-25505 filed  April  18,
     1997).

4.4  Indenture  dated  as  of August 26,  1997  between  the
     Company  and  State Street Bank and Trust  Company,  as
     Trustee  relating to the 9.125% Series A and  B  Senior
     Notes   due  September  1,  2007.   (Exhibit   4.1   to
     Registration  Statement No. 333-36711  filed  September
     30, 1997).

4.5  Indenture dated as of July 31, 1998 between the Company
     and  State  Street Bank and Trust Company,  as  Trustee
     relating to the 8.875% Series A and B Senior Notes  due
     August  1,  2008 (Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement
     No. 333-64731 filed September 30, 1998).

4.6  Second  Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated  as
     of  April 1, 1996 between the Company and State  Street
     Bank  and Trust Company, as Rights Agent (Exhibit 1  to
     Form 8-K filed April 2, 1996).

*5   Opinion of Kevin W. Donnelly, Esq.

*23.1      Consent of Kevin W. Donnelly, Esq. (contained  in
           Exhibit 5).

*23.2     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

24   Power of Attorney (see page 9 of the Registration
     Statement).

*99.1     Form of Stock Option Certificate.
<PAGE>
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Registration No. 333-76345
         As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
                            on May 28, 1999

                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                         Washington D.C. 20549

                               FORM S-8
                     REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                      THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             NORTEK, INC.
          (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

               Delaware                           05-0314991
      (State or other jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer
      incorporation or organization)              Identification No.)

         50 Kennedy Plaza, Providence, Rhode Island     02903
         (Address of Principal Executive Offices)      (Zip Code)

           NORTEK, INC. 1999 EQUITY AND CASH INCENTIVE PLAN
                        (Full title of the plan)

                                             Copy to
          Richard L. Bready, Chairman        Kevin W. Donnelly, Esq.
          Nortek, Inc., 50 Kennedy Plaza     Nortek, Inc., 50 Kennedy Plaza
          Providence, Rhode Island 02903     Providence, Rhode Island 02903
                (Name and address of agent for service)

                            (401) 751-1600
     (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                    CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

   Title of      Amount to   Proposed      Proposed     Amount of
 Securities to      be        Maximum      Maximum    Registration
      be        Registered   Offering     Aggregate        Fee
  Registered        (1)      Price Per     Offering
                             Share(2)      Price(2)
Common Stock,
Par Value $1.00   575,000     $30.25     $17,161,581    $4,771(2)
Per Share (1)

(1)     Persons  eligible  to  receive  awards  under  the  Plan  being
  registered  hereunder  (the "Plan") may  receive  shares  of  or  may
  receive  options  to  purchase shares of Special  Common  Stock,  par
  value  $1.00 per share, which are convertible into Common Stock.   No
  more than 575,000 shares of Common Stock and Special Common Stock  in
  the  aggregate  may  be  issued. There is also  registered  hereunder
  575,000  attached Rights to purchase one one-hundredth of a share  of
  Series A Participating Preference Stock of the Company.
(2)        Outstanding  options  on the date  hereof  have  a  weighted
  average  exercise price of $29.5625 and a maximum aggregate  offering
  price  of  $9,983,256.  The registration fee payable with respect  to
  such  options  is  $2,775.  There are 237,300  shares  available  for
  grant  under  the  Plan, at exercise prices still to  be  determined.
  For  the purpose of determining the registration fee, the maximum per
  share  and  aggregate offering prices have been determined,  pursuant
  to  Rule  457(h)  of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  on  the
  basis  of the average of the high and low prices of the Common  Stock
  reported  on  the  New  York Stock Exchange on  May  25,  1999.   The
  registration  fee  for  the  shares not yet  subject  to  outstanding
  options is $1,996.  The total registration fee payable in respect  of
  the shares being registered hereunder is $4,771.

                       Exhibit Index on Page 7.
Part II

          INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.   Incorporation of Documents by Reference

      Nortek,  Inc.  (the "Company") hereby incorporates the  following
documents by reference:

     (a)  The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
       December 31, 1998 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
       (the "Commission") on March 30, 1999.

     (b)  The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
       April 3, 1999 filed with the Commission on May 18, 1999.

     (c)   The  Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K  filed  with  the
       Commission  on  January 11, 1999, March    10,  1999,  April  8,
       1999, April 23, 1999 and April 26, 1999.

     (d)   All  other reports filed by the Company with the  Commission
       pursuant  to  Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of  the  Securities
       Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") since the end  of  the
       fiscal  year covered by the Company's Annual Report referred  to
       above.

      The  description of the Company's Common Stock contained  in  its
registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission  on  April
23,  1981  and  the description of the Company's Special  Common  Stock
contained  in  its registration statement on Form 8-A  filed  with  the
Commission on November 25, 1986.

      All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company
pursuant  to  Sections 13(a) and (c), 14 and 15(d)  of  the  Securities
Exchange  Act  of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), prior  to  the
filing   of  a  post-effective  amendment  which  indicates  that   all
securities  offered  hereby have been sold  or  which  deregisters  all
securities  remaining  unsold, shall be deemed to  be  incorporated  by
reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of
such reports and documents.

Item 4.   Description of Securities

     Not applicable.

Item 5.   Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

      The  validity  of  the shares of Common Stock (and  the  attached
Rights) and Special Common Stock offered hereby is being passed upon by
Kevin W. Donnelly, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the
Company.   Mr.  Donnelly owns 27,007 shares of Common Stock  (including
18,914  shares subject to exercisable options) and 10 shares of Special
Common Stock.

Item 6.   Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

      Section  145  of  the Delaware General Corporation  Law  ("DGCL")
provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was  or  is  a
party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed  action,  suit  or  proceeding  whether  civil,  criminal  or
investigative  (other  than  an action  by  or  in  the  right  of  the
corporation)  by  reason of the fact that he  is  or  was  a  director,
officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving  at
the  request  of  the corporation as a director, officer,  employee  or
agent  of  another  corporation, partnership, joint venture,  trust  or
other   enterprise,  against  expenses  (including  attorneys'   fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred  by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding  if
he  acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in
or  not  opposed  to the best interests of the corporation,  and,  with
respect  to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable  cause
to believe his conduct was unlawful.  Section 145 further provides that
a  corporation similarly may indemnify any
such person serving  in  any
such capacity who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party
to  any  threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or  in  the
right  of  the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor,  against
expenses  actually  and  reasonably incurred  in  connection  with  the
defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good  faith
in  a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests  of the corporation and except that no indemnification  shall
be  made  in  respect of any claim, issue or matter as  to  which  such
person  shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless
and  only  to  the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery  or  such
other  court  in which such action or suit was brought shall  determine
upon  application  that, despite the adjudication of liability  but  in
view  of  all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly  and
reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the  Court  of
Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

      Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to include in
its  certificate of incorporation a provision eliminating  or  limiting
the  personal  liability  of  a director  to  the  corporation  or  its
stockholders  for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary  duty  as  a
director, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the
liability  of a director (i) for any breach of the director's  duty  of
loyalty  to  the  corporation or its stockholders,  (ii)  for  acts  or
omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct  or
a  knowing  violation  of  law, (iii) under Section  174  of  the  DGCL
(relating to unlawful payment of dividends and unlawful stock  purchase
and  redemption)  or (iv) for any transaction from which  the  director
derived an improper personal benefit.

      The  Company's  Certificate of Incorporation  provides  that  its
directors  shall  not be liable to the Company or its stockholders  for
monetary  damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director except  to
the extent that exculpation from liabilities is not permitted under the
DGCL  as  in  effect  at the time such liability  is  determined.   The
Company's  By-Laws further provide that Registrant shall indemnify  its
directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.

      The  directors  and  officers of the Company  are  covered  under
directors' and officers' liability insurance policies maintained by the
Company.

Item 7.   Exemption From Registration Claimed

     Not applicable.

Item 8.   Exhibits

      Exhibits  marked  with  an  asterisk  are  filed  herewith.   The
remainder  of  the  exhibits  have  heretofore  been  filed  with   the
Commission and are incorporated herein by reference:

Exhibit Number

*4.1 Nortek, Inc. 1999 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan.

4.2  Indenture  dated as of February 14, 1994 between the  Company  and
     State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee, relating to the 9
     7/8%  Senior Subordinated Notes due March 1, 2004 (Exhibit 4.5  to
     Form 10-K filed March 25, 1994, File No. 1-6112).

4.3  Indenture dated as of March 17, 1997 between the Company and State
     Street  Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee relating to  the  9.25%
     Series A and Series B Senior Notes due March 15, 2007 (Exhibit 4.2
     to Registration Statement No. 333-25505 filed April 18, 1997).
4.4  Indenture  dated  as of August 26, 1997 between  the  Company  and
     State  Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee relating  to  the
     9.125% Series A and B Senior Notes due September 1,2007.  (Exhibit
     4.1  to  Registration Statement No. 333-36711 filed September  30,
     1997).

4.5  Indenture dated as of July 31, 1998 between the Company and  State
     Street  Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee relating to the  8.875%
     Series  A  and B Senior Notes due August 1, 2008 (Exhibit  4.1  to
     Registration Statement No. 333-64731 filed September 30, 1998).

4.6  Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of April  1,
     1996  between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company,
     as Rights Agent (Exhibit 1 to Form 8-K filed April 2, 1996).

*5.       Opinion of Kevin W. Donnelly, Esq.

*23.1     Consent of Kevin W. Donnelly, Esq. (contained in Exhibit 5).

*23.2     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

24.       Power of Attorney (see page 9 of the Registration Statement).

*99.1     Form of Stock Option Certificate.

Item 9.   Undertakings

     (a)  The Company hereby undertakes:

     (1)  to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement,

     (i)  to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
Act,

     (ii)  to  reflect  in the prospectus any facts or  events  arising
after  the  effective date of the registration statement (or  the  most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in  the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set  forth
in the registration statement,

     (iii)     to include any material information with respect to  the
plan  of  distribution  not previously disclosed  in  the  registration
statement   or  any  material  change  to  such  information   in   the
registration statement;

provided,  however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) shall  not
apply  if  the  information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment  by  those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports  filed
with  or furnished to the Commission by the Company pursuant to Section
13  or  Section  15(d)  of the Exchange Act that  are  incorporated  by
reference in the registration statement.

     (2)  that, for the purposes of determining any liability under the
Act,  each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to  be  a  new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,  and
the  offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.

      (3)   to  remove  from registration by means of a  post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
the termination of the offering.

(b)   The  undersigned Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes  of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing
of  the  Company's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a)  or  Section
15(d)  of  the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing  of  an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to
Section 15(d) of  the
Exchange  Act)  that is incorporated by reference in  the  registration
statement  shall be deemed to be a new registration statement  relating
to  the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at  that  time  shall  be deemed to be the initial bona  fide  offering
thereof.

(c)   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the  Act
may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the
registrant  pursuant  to the foregoing provisions,  or  otherwise,  the
Company  has  been advised that in the opinion of the  Commission  such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in  the  Act  and
is,   therefore,  unenforceable.   In  the  event  that  a  claim   for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Company  of  expenses  incurred  or paid  by  a  director,  officer  or
controlling  person  of the Company in the successful  defense  of  any
action,  suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,  officer  or
controlling  person in connection with the securities being registered,
the  Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter  has
been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES

      Pursuant  to the requirements of the Securities Act of  1933,  as
amended,  the  Company  certifies that it  has  reasonable  grounds  to
believe  that it meets all of the requirements for filing on  Form  S-8
and  has  duly caused this registration statement to be signed  on  its
behalf  by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the  City  of
Providence, Rhode Island on this 28th day of May, 1999.

                                        NORTEK, INC.

                                        By: /s/ Richard L. Bready
                                              Richard L. Bready
                                              Chairman of the Board

      We, the undersigned officers and directors of the Company, hereby
severally  constitute and appoint Richard L. Bready, Richard J.  Harris
and  Kevin  W. Donnelly, and each of them singly, our true  and  lawful
attorneys  or  attorney  to  execute in our names,  in  the  capacities
indicated  below, any and all amendments to this registration statement
on  Form S-8, and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection
therewith,  and  to file the same with the Commission.   Each  of  said
attorneys  shall have power to act hereunder with or without any  other
of  said  attorneys,  and  shall have full power  of  substitution  and
resubstitution.   Each  of said attorneys shall  have  full  power  and
authority  to do and perform in the name and on behalf of each  of  the
undersigned, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever  requisite
or  necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to  all  intents
and  purposes as each of the undersigned might or could do  in  person,
and  each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the  acts  of
said attorneys and each of them.

      Pursuant  to  the  requirements of  the  Act,  this  registration
statement  has  been  signed  below by the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the date indicated.

     Name                     Title                    Date

/s/  Richard L. Bready    Chairman of the Board of     May 28, 1999
Richard L. Bready         Directors and President
                          (Principal Executive
                          Officer)

/s/Richard  J. Harris     Vice President and           May 28, 1999
Richard J. Harris         Treasurer (Principal
                          Financial Officer) and
                          Director

/s/  Almon  C. Hall       Vice President and           May 28, 1999
Almon C. Hall             Controller (Principal
                          Accounting Officer)

/s/  Phillip  L. Cohen    Director                     May 28, 1999
Phillip L. Cohen

/s/  William  I. Kelly    Director                     May 28, 1999
William I. Kelly

/s/ J. Peter Lyons        Director                     May 28, 1999
J. Peter Lyons
EXHIBIT INDEX

      Exhibits  marked with an asterisk are filed  herewith.
The  remainder  of the exhibits have heretofore  been  filed
with   the   Commission  and  are  incorporated  herein   by
reference:

Exhibit Number

*4.1 Nortek, Inc. 1999 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan.

4.2  Indenture  dated  as of February 14, 1994  between  the
     Company  and  State Street Bank and Trust  Company,  as
     Trustee,  relating  to the 9 7/8%  Senior  Subordinated
     Notes  due  2004 (Exhibit 4.5 to Form 10-K filed  March
     25, 1994, File No. 1-6112).

4.3  Indenture  dated  as  of March  17,  1997  between  the
     Company  and  State Street Bank and Trust  Company,  as
     Trustee  relating to the 9.25% Series A  and  Series  B
     Senior  Notes  due  March  15,  2007  (Exhibit  4.2  to
     Registration  Statement No. 333-25505 filed  April  18,
     1997).

4.4  Indenture  dated  as  of August 26,  1997  between  the
     Company  and  State Street Bank and Trust  Company,  as
     Trustee  relating to the 9.125% Series A and  B  Senior
     Notes   due  September  1,  2007.   (Exhibit   4.1   to
     Registration  Statement No. 333-36711  filed  September
     30, 1997).

4.5  Indenture dated as of July 31, 1998 between the Company
     and  State  Street Bank and Trust Company,  as  Trustee
     relating to the 8.875% Series A and B Senior Notes  due
     August  1,  2008 (Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement
     No. 333-64731 filed September 30, 1998).

4.6  Second  Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated  as
     of  April 1, 1996 between the Company and State  Street
     Bank  and Trust Company, as Rights Agent (Exhibit 1  to
     Form 8-K filed April 2, 1996).

*5   Opinion of Kevin W. Donnelly, Esq.

*23.1      Consent of Kevin W. Donnelly, Esq. (contained  in
           Exhibit 5).

*23.2     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

24   Power of Attorney (see page 9 of the Registration
     Statement).

*99.1     Form of Stock Option Certificate.