SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Amendment #2 Name of Issuer: SMITH A.O. CORP _____________________________________________________ Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock CUSIP Number: 831865209 1) NAME OF I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF REPORTING PERSON The Prudential Insurance Company of America 22-1211670 2.) MEMBER OF A GROUP: (a) N/A (b) N/A 3) SEC USE ONLY: 4) PLACE OF ORGANIZATION: A mutual insurance company organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY REPORTING PERSON WITH: 5) Sole Voting Power: Not Applicable 6) Shared Voting Power: Not Applicable 7) Sole Dispositive Power: Not Applicable 8) Shared Dispositive Power: Not Applicable 9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED: Not Applicable 10) AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES SHARES: Not Applicable 11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9): Not Applicable 12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON: IC, IA ITEM 1(a). NAME OF ISSUER: SMITH A.O. CORP ITEM 1(b). ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S EXECUTIVE OFFICES: SMITH A.O. CORP 11270 W. Park Place Suite 1200 Milwaukee, WI 53224 ITEM 2(a). NAME OF PERSON FILING: The Prudential Insurance Company of America ITEM 2(b). ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE: 751 Broad Street Newark, New Jersey 07102-3777 ITEM 2(c). CITIZENSHIP: A mutual insurance company organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey ITEM 2(d). TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES: Common Stock ITEM 2(e). CUSIP NUMBER: 831865209 ITEM 3. The Person filing this statement is an Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a) (19) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and an Investment Adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP: (a) Number of Shares Beneficially Owned: Not Applicable (b) Percent of Class: Number (c) Powers Of Shares - ------------------------------------- -------------------------- Sole power to vote or Not Applicable to direct the vote Shared power to vote or Not Applicable to direct the vote Sole power to dispose or Not Applicable to direct disposition Shared power to dispose Not Applicable or to direct disposition ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF 5% OR LESS OF A CLASS: Prudential has ceased to be the owner of more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of this issuer. ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN 5% ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON: Not Applicable ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE ULTIMATE PARENT 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, the Prudential Insurance Company of America certifies that, to the best of its 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 purpose or effect. The filing of this statement should not be construed as an admission that Prudential is, for purposes of Sections 13 or 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the beneficial owner of such shares. SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of its knowledge and belief, The Prudential Insurance Company of America certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA By: Karen L. Shapiro Vice President, Corporate Compliance Date: 02/10/98 As of: 12/31/97 --------------