SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G (Rule 13d-102) INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1(b) AND (c) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO 13d-2(b) (Amendment No. ) FANSTEEL INC. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (Title of Class of Securities) 307260 20 8 (CUSIP Number) February [29], 2004 (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: (X) Rule 13d-1(b) Rule 13d-1(c) Rule 13d-1(d) CUSIP No. 307260 20 8 13G Page 2 of 6 Pages 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (ENTITIES ONLY) Northern Trust Corporation 36-2723087 The Northern Trust Company 36-1561860 Northern Trust Investments, N.A. 36-3608252 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) (b) 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Northern Trust Corporation ? a Delaware corporation with principal offices in Chicago, Illinois. NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH 5 SOLE VOTING POWER 516,427 Shares 6 SHARED VOTING POWER -2,198- Shares 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 518,528 Shares 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER -97- Shares 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 518,625 Shares 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 17.5% 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON Northern Trust Corporation HC Item 1(a). Name of Issuer: Fansteel Inc. Item 1(b). Address of Issuer?s Principal Executive Offices: Number One Tantalum Place, North Chicago, Illinois 60064 Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing: Northern Trust Corporation Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, residence: 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60675 Item 2(c). Citizenship: U.S. (Delaware corporation) Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock, $.01 par value per share Item 2(e). CUSIP Number: 307260 20 8 Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b), check whether the person filing is a: (a) Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act, (b) Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act, (c) Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act, (d) Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act, (e) Investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E), (f) Employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F), (g) (X) Parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G), (h) Saving association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, (i) Church plan that is excluded from the definition of investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act, (j) Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). Item 4. Ownership. (a) Amount Beneficially Owned: 518,625 Shares. (b) Percent of Class: Approximately 17.5%. (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 516,427 Shares. (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 2,198. (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 518,528 Shares. (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 97. Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class. Not applicable. Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. Not applicable. Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company. [Parent holding company reporting on behalf of all of the following subsidiaries, all of which are banks as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act. The Northern Trust Company 50 South LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60675] Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. Not applicable. Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of a 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 and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: November 17, 2004 NORTHERN TRUST CORPORATION By: Name: Orie L. Dudley, Jr. Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer Exhibit to Schedule 13G filed by Northern Trust Corporation Securities and Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549 Re: Fansteel Inc. Pursuant to the requirement of Rule 13d-1(k)(1)(iii) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this exhibit shall constitute our written agreement that the Schedule 13G to which this exhibit is attached is filed on behalf of Northern Trust Corporation and of its subsidiary, as stated below, regarding our respective beneficial ownership in the above-captioned equity security. NORTHERN TRUST CORPORATION By: Name: Orie L. Dudley, Jr. Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY NORTHERN TRUST INVESTMENTS, N.A By:________________________________ Name: Orie L. Dudley, Jr. Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer