SCHEDULE 13G/A

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 16)*


Brady Corporation
(Name of Issuer)
 
 
Class A Common Stock
(Title of Class of Securities)
 
 
104674106
(CUSIP Number)
 
 
 
12/31/03
(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)

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).


Page 1 of 5 pages


CUSIP No. 104674106


1. Names of Reporting Persons.
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).

ARIEL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
# 36-3219058
2.

Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
 
Not Applicable

(a) |_|
(b) |_|
3.

SEC Use Only

 
4.

Citizenship or Place of Organization                  

Illinois Corporation


Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned By
Each
Reporting
Person With		 5.

Sole Voting Power       

Ariel - 5,152,751
6.

Shared Voting Power  

Ariel - 0
7.

Sole Dispositive Power    

Ariel - 6,231,136
8.

Shared Dispositive Power

Ariel - 0

9.

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

Ariel - 6,234,976
10.

Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)*

Not Applicable

 |_|
11.

Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)       

Ariel - 6,234,976 / 21,715,320 = 28.712%
12.

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

Ariel - IA

* This report is being made on behalf of John W. Rogers, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ariel Capital Management, Inc., who may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the securities of the issuer. Mr. Rogers disclaims beneficial ownership of shares held by Ariel Capital Management, Inc.


Page 2 of 5 pages


Item 1.


(a) Name of Issuer

  Brady Corporation

(b) Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices

  6555 West Good Hope Road, Milwaukee, WI 53223

Item 2.


(a) Name of Person Filing

  Ariel Capital Management, Inc.

(b) Address of Principal Business Office, or if none, Residence

  200 E. Randolph Drive, Suite 2900, Chicago, IL 60601

(c) Citizenship

  an Illinois corporation

(d) Title of Class of Securities

  Class A Common Stock

(e) CUSIP Number

  104674106

Item 3.   If this statement is filed pursuant to §§240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the
               person filing is a:


(a) |_|     Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).

(b) |_|     Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

(c) |_|     Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

(d) |_|     Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940
         (15 U.S.C 80a-8).

(e) |X|     An investment adviser in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

(f) |_|     An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

(g) |_|     A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

(h) |_|     A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act
         (12 U.S.C. 1813);

(i) |_|     A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under
         section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);

(j) |_|     Group, in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).


Page 3 of 5 pages


Item 4.   Ownership.

          Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.


(a) Amount beneficially owned:
(See Page 2, No. 9)

(b) Percent of class:
(See Page 2, No. 11)

(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:

  (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote
(See Page 2, No. 5)

  (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote
(See Page 2, No. 6)

  (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
(See Page 2, No. 7)

  (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
(See Page 2, No. 8)

Item 5.   Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.


            If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof 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 this Schedule are owned by investment advisory clients of Ariel Capital Management, Inc., who have the right to dividends and proceeds of any sale of the subject security. Ariel Fund, a series of Ariel Investment Trust, a registered investment company, owns more than five percent of the subject security.

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.   Certifications.


(a) The following certification shall be included if the statement is filed pursuant to §240.13d-1(b):

  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 and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

(b) The following certification shall be included if the statement is filed pursuant to §240.13d-1(c):

  By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above 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 and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.


Page 4 of 5 pages


SIGNATURE

        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 and correct.


ARIEL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
By: /s/ John P. Miller, CFA
———————————————
        John P. Miller, CFA
        Senior Vice President,
        Portfolio Management


The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf the statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the statement is signed on behalf of a person by his authorized representative other than an executive officer or general partner of the filing person, evidence of the representative’s authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with the statement, provided, however, that a power of attorney for this purpose which is already on file with the Commission may be incorporated by reference. The name and any title of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or printed beneath his signature.

NOTE: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See §240.13d-7 for other parties for whom copies are to be sent.


Attention: Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal criminal violations
(See 18 U.S.C. 1001)


Page 5 of 5 pages