August 15, 2000


Mr. Thomas B. Clark
Alltrista Corporation
5875 Castle Creek Parkway, North Drive
Suite 440
Indianapolis, Indiana   46250

Dear Tom:

As you are aware, Marlin Partners II, L.P.,  presented the Board of Directors of
Alltrista  Corporation  (the  "Company")  with a  specific  proposal  that would
benefit all shareholders on May 12, 2000.

Although we have received no response, we were pleased to participate in a wider
bidding process when the Company on May 26, 2000,  hired Bear Stearns to explore
strategic options.

In view of the fact that no sale process has been  commenced  subsequent  to the
engagement  of Bear Stearns,  we submitted a revised  proposal to the Company on
July 28, 2000. To date, we have received no response to either proposal.

As  we  have  discussed,   it  is  widely  recognized  that  the  vast  majority
shareholders  believe that due to the Company's  disappointing  recent operating
results, short, medium and long-term market performance compared to all relevant
indexes and lack of  liquidity  of its stock,  it would be in the  shareholders'
best interests to maximize shareholder value as soon as possible.

It is now over three  months since our first  proposal was made.  As all of your
shareholders are aware, time is money. The obvious  procrastination of the Board
of  Directors  is to the direct  detriment  of serving  the  shareholders'  best
interests  and  directly  opposed  to the  views of your  largest  institutional
shareholders.

Therefore,  we request  you, as President  of  Alltrista,  pursuant to authority
under Article Two, Section B of the Company's  Bylaws, to call a special meeting
of shareholders (the "Special Meeting") to vote upon the following resolution:





Alltrista Corporation
August 15, 2000
Page 2

RESOLVED:   The  shareholders  believe  that,  in  the  best  interests  of  the
shareholders,  the Company be sold and thereby directs the Board of Directors to
proceed  promptly to initiate a publicly  announced sale process of the Company,
to solicit the highest and best offer for the Company.

In various  statements to me you have clearly  indicated that you are willing to
do  what  is  in  the  best  interests  of  the  shareholders.   In  our  recent
conversations  you have  identified your directors as the reason for the lack of
progress  on the  sale  process.  Now you  have  an  opportunity  to  show  your
shareholders,  a handful of whom own the vast  majority  of shares  outstanding,
that you are acting in the  interests  of the  Company's  shareholders.  If your
statements to me and the other  shareholders are true, it is imperative that you
call the Special Meeting so that your  shareholders can express their sentiments
to the outside directors.

We urge you to send a notice of such Special Meeting as soon as possible, but no
later than August 31, 2000. In the absence of the relevant  provision  under the
Company's  Articles or Bylaws,  Indiana  Business  Corporation Law provides that
notice of a special  shareholders' meeting should be no fewer than ten (10) days
and not more than  sixty  (60) days  before the  meeting  date.  Judging by this
requirement,  the Company should be able to hold such a Special Meeting by early
September, 2000.

We look forward to receiving a notice of a Special Meeting from you shortly.

Yours sincerely,

/s/ Martin E. Franklin
Martin E. Franklin

cc: Stuart Taylor (Bear Stearns)