SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant  [ ]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:

[ ]    Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ]    Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
       14a-6(e)(2))
[ ]    Definitive Proxy Statement 
[x]    Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]    Soliciting Material Pursuant to section 240.14a-11(c) or section 
       240.14a-12

                           THE EASTERN COMPANY
 ...............................................................................
           (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 ...............................................................................
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if Other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[ ]    $125 per Exchange Act Rule 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(j)(2).
[ ]    $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act 
       Rule 14a-6(i)(3).
[ ]    Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

    1)    Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

    2)    Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

    3)    Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed 
          pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
          filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

    4)    Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

    5)    Total fee paid:

   [X]    Fee previously paid with preliminary materials.

[ ]    Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act 
       Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee 
       was paid previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration 
       statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.


    1)    Amount Previously Paid:
            
          .....................................................................

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          .....................................................................

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    4)    Date Filed:
            
          .....................................................................




The Eastern Company                          IMMEDIATELY
112 Bridge Street
P.O. Box 460                                 Arthur Crozier
Naugatuck, CT   06770                        Georgeson & Company
                                               (212) 440-9861



                          AN OPEN LETTER TO JOHN DYSON
                 FROM THE DIRECTORS OF THE EASTERN COMPANY


March 19, 1997


Mr. John Dyson
RR 1
Box 167D
Wing Road
Millbrook, NY  12545


Dear Mr. Dyson:

We, all of the  Directors  of The Eastern  Company,  strongly  believe the proxy
fight you and your  affiliates,  MMI Investments,  L.L.C. and Millbrook  Capital
Management  Inc., are waging in furtherance  of your hostile,  highly  leveraged
offer for the Company is harmful to the Company  and its  shareholders.  FOR THE
REASONS STATED BELOW, WE ARE URGING ALL OUR SHAREHOLDERS TO REJECT YOUR CAMPAIGN
BY SIGNING AND RETURNING A WHITE PROXY CARD WITH A VOTE IN FAVOR OF MANAGEMENT.

                 EASTERN'S FINANCIAL STRENGTH AND THE VALUE
                         IT WILL PRODUCE BELONG TO
                    ALL THE SHAREHOLDERS, NOT JUST TO YOU

We have  worked  hard to build a strong  financial  base  from  which to  create
long-term value for our shareholders. WE BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO USE THAT
STRENGTH,  WHICH RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO ALL SHAREHOLDERS,  TO SUPPORT YOUR HIGHLY
LEVERAGED OFFER AND THEREBY DEPRIVE THE  SHAREHOLDERS OF THE VALUE THAT STRENGTH
WILL PRODUCE.

We know how you and your  family made your  millions:  by buying  companies  and
selling  them at a  profit.  We do not  believe  that you  should  profit at the
expense of our other shareholders.


Eastern is now poised to increase  shareholder value through future growth.  Our
financial strength permits us to continue our program of strategic acquisitions.
Since  1994,  we have made a number  of such  acquisitions:  Prestolock  (1994),
Precision  Components  (1995) and certain assets of Excel Mining Systems (1996).
Further, we are also continuing our new product design efforts.

These efforts are now paying off. Despite the anticipated  downturn in the first
quarter of 1996, normal operating  profits increased  dramatically over the rest
of the year. We fully expect this trend to continue.  Indeed,  operating profits
for the first two months of 1997 are ahead of target.

Your  campaign  ignores  these facts.  We do not want  shareholders  misled into
thinking that Eastern does not have a bright future. Clay Lifflander, another of
the Dyson/MMI would-be directors,  knows that the opposite is true: HE SAID THAT
"EASTERN  IS  A  WONDERFUL  COMPANY  WITH  FOUR  TO  FIVE  BUSINESSES  IN  NICHE
MANUFACTURING MARKETS, ALL WITH HIGH GROWTH MARGINS," AND BRAGGED ABOUT YOUR $15
PER SHARE LEVERAGED BUYOUT PROPOSAL, "HOW OFTEN DO YOU FIND A DEAL LIKE THAT?"

                       YOUR COSTLY, DISRUPTIVE AND
               SELF-INTERESTED CAMPAIGN IS, IN OUR VIEW,
        HARMFUL TO THE LONG-TERM INTERESTS OF THE SHAREHOLDERS

YOUR  COSTLY AND  DISRUPTIVE  EFFORTS  HAVE,  IN OUR VIEW,  BEEN  HARMFUL TO THE
LONG-TERM  INTERESTS OF THE  SHAREHOLDERS.  You have not  withdrawn  your offer,
which we believe would shortchange Eastern's shareholders. Further, you and your
other nominees  appear to have a substantial  conflict of interest.  If elected,
won't you have a STRONG  SELF-INTEREST  IN SELLING THE COMPANY TO  YOURSELVES AT
THE CHEAPEST POSSIBLE PRICE?

                     THE SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT IS NOT
               A PLAYTHING FOR YOU TO "HAVE A LOT OF FUN WITH"

If, on the other hand, you are not seeking  election to further your purchase of
the Company,  we fail to see what you will accomplish  other than disruption and
distraction.  HOW ARE YOUR THREE NOMINEES QUALIFIED TO SERVE AS DIRECTORS OF THE
EASTERN COMPANY?

You are a millionaire  financier and winery owner who dabbles in politics,  most
recently as a Deputy Mayor of New York City. WE HAVE TO QUESTION YOUR COMMITMENT
TO THE  SERIOUS  BUSINESS  OF  SERVING  THE  LONG-TERM  INTERESTS  OF  EASTERN'S
SHAREHOLDERS.  WHEN EASTERN'S DIRECTORS,  AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION,  REJECTED
YOUR LEVERAGED BUYOUT PROPOSAL,  YOU SAID: "I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF
FUN WITH THIS."

Your fellow nominee,  Clay Lifflander,  34 year-old president of your investment
vehicle, appears to have no relevant manufacturing experience.

Your other nominee,  George Shearer, is the president of a portfolio company you
intended to use to acquire Eastern, even though it has only 1/4 of Eastern's net
worth.  That company makes  flexible  shaft  products -- a product line entirely
unrelated to Eastern's businesses.


AS WE TOLD YOU LAST SUMMER,  WE BELIEVE  YOUR  HOSTILE  OFFER IS NOT IN THE BEST
INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY,  ITS SHAREHOLDERS,  EMPLOYEES,  CUSTOMERS,  CREDITORS,
SUPPLIERS OR THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE HAVE FACILITIES. OUR BELIEF IS THE SAME
CONCERNING YOUR PROXY FIGHT.

This letter is a summary of the reasons why we strongly urge our shareholders to
defeat the costly,  disruptive and  self-interested  proxy fight you started, by
signing, dating and returning a WHITE proxy card.

Very truly yours,

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE EASTERN COMPANY



 John W. Everets                          Charles W. Henry
 Chairman of H.P.S.C. Inc.                Partner
 Boston, MA                               Kernan & Henry
 (Financial Services)                     Waterbury, CT



 Ole K. Imset                             Leonard F. Leganza
 Director of Manufacturing,               Financial and Business Consultant
 Allen Bradley, Rockwell International    Farmington, CT
 Manchester, NH




 Russell G. McMillen                      David C. Robinson
 Chairman of the Company                  President of The Robinson Company
 (Until April 24, 1996)                   Waterbury, CT




 Stedman G. Sweet                         Donald S. Tuttle, III
 President and Chief Executive Officer    Account Executive and Vice President
 of the Company                           Paine Webber
                                          Middlebury, CT

                                     


                                          Donald E. Whitmore, Jr.
                                          Vice President, Treasurer
                                          and Secretary of the Company