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SCHEDULE 13G (1996)
Amendment No.
 ASTRO-MED INC NEW
 Cusip # 04638F108

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Cusip # 04638F108
Item 1: REPORTING PERSONS
Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. (Tax ID: 22-2370029)
Item 4: CITIZENSHIP
Delaware Corporation
Item 5: SOLE VOTING POWER
 224,300
* Persons who are officers of Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. also serve as officers of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc., (the "Fund") and The DFA Investment Trust Company (the "Trust"), each an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. In their capacities as officers of the Fund and the Trust, these persons vote 58,175 additional shares which are owned by the Fund and 43,675 shares which are owned by the Trust. (Included in Item 7 of this page of this Schedule)
Item 6: SHARED VOTING POWER --
 None
Item 7: SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER --
 326,150
Item 8: SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER --
 0
Item 9: AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED --
 326,150
Item 11: PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY LINE 9 --
 6.57
Item 12: TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON --
IA

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ITEM 1(A). NAME OF ISSUER
ASTRO-MED INC NEW
ITEM 1(B). ADDRESS OF ISSUER
600 East Greenwich Ave.
West Warwick RI 02893
ITEM 2(A). NAME OF PERSON FILING
Dimensional Fund Advisors
ITEM 2(B). ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE
1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor, Santa Monica, CA 90401
ITEM 2(C). CITIZENSHIP
A Delaware Corporation
ITEM 2(D). TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES
Common Stock
ITEM 2(E). CUSIP NUMBER
04638F108
ITEM 3. This statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1 (b), or
 13d-2 (b) and the person filing is an investment advisor registered under section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940.

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ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP
ITEM 4(a). AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
See Page 2, Item No. 9
ITEM 4(b). PERCENT OF CLASS
See Page 2, Item No. 11
ITEM 4(c). NUMBER OF SHARE AS TO WHICH SUCH PERSON HAS:
(i). SOLE POWER TO VOTE OR DIRECT THE VOTE --
See Page 2, Item No. 5
(ii). SHARED POWER TO VOTE OR TO DIRECT THE VOTE --
None
(iii). SOLE POWER TO DISPOSE OR TO DIRECT DISPOSITION OF --
See Page 2, Item No. 9
(iv). SHARE POWER TO DISPOSE OR TO DIRECT DISPOSISTION OF --
None
ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS
 If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of 12/31/96 the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following: [ ]
ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF
ANOTHER PERSON
 All Securities reported upon in this schedule are onwed by advisory clients Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc., no one of which to the knowledge of Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. owns more than 5% of the class
ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH
ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY:
 Not Applicable
ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
 Not Applicable
ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP
 Not Applicable
ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION
 By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purposes or effect.
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete are correct.
Signature
Wednesday, February 5, 1997
Date
Michael T. Scardina
Vice President and Chief Finacial Officer Name/Title