-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 x6tA6CyG4e5rWb5mXEsCUQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000031107-08-000080.txt : 20080909
<SEC-HEADER>0000031107-08-000080.hdr.sgml : 20080909
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080909144905
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000031107-08-000080
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080905
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080909
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080909

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EASTERN CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000031107
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CUTLERY, HANDTOOLS & GENERAL HARDWARE [3420]
		IRS NUMBER:				060330020
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CT
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0102

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		112 BRIDGE ST
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 460
		CITY:			NAUGATUCK
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06770
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2037292255

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		112 BRIDGE STREET
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 460
		CITY:			NAUGATUCK
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06770

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HENRY CHARLES W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001193778

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-00599
		FILM NUMBER:		081062834

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		62 TUNXIS VILLAGE
		CITY:			FARMINGTON
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06032
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>henry5sep08_ex.xml
<DESCRIPTION>HENRY SEPT. 5, 2008
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-09-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000031107</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EASTERN CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EML</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001193778</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HENRY CHARLES W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>112 BRIDGE STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NAUGATUCK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06770</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-09-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>22500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.33</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>79889</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified stock options</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.33</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-09-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>22500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1998-09-09</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-10-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>22500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified stock options</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.17</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>1999-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-12-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-01-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>18750</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>18750</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">22,500 shares were exercised on September 5, 2008 at $9.33 . The original option on 9/9/1998 was for 10,000 shares at $21.00
 per share. As a result of a 3-for-2 stock split effective 5/19/1999 and a 3-for-2 stock split effective 10/18/2006, this
 option is now 22,500 shares at $9.33 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The original option on 9/9/1998 was for 10,000 shares at $21.00 per share. As a result of a 3-for-2 stock split effective
 5/19/1999 and a 3-for-2 stock split effective 10/18/2006, this option is now 22,500 shares at $9.33 per share.  On September
 5, 2008, 22,500 shares were exercised at $9.33, leaving a zero balance.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The original 12/15/1999 option was for 12,500 shares at $15.25 per share. As a result of a 3-for-2 stock split effective
 10/18/2006 this option is now 18,750 shares at $10.17 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Charles W. Henry, by Theresa P. Dews his attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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