content: UNITED STATES
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                                      FORM 144
  
                        NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF SECURITIES
                PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
  ATTENTION:  Transmit for filing 3 copies of this form  concurrently  with either
  placing an order with a broker to execute sale or executing a sale directly with
  a market maker
  
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  1(a)  NAME OF ISSUER (Please type or print)
  
        The Eastern Company
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1(b)  IRS IDENT. NO.                      (c) SEC FILE NO.
  
        06-0330020                              0-599
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1(d)  ADDRESS OF ISSUER STREET
  
        112 Bridge Street
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1(d)  CITY STATE ZIP CODE
  
        Naugatuck, CT  06770
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1(e)  TELEPHONE
  
        AREA CODE                           NUMBER
  
        203                                 729-2255
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2(a)  NAME OF PERSON FOR WHOSE ACCOUNT THE SECURITIES ARE TO BE SOLD
  
        Salaried Employees' Retirement Plan of The Eastern Company
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2(b)  IRS IDENT. NO.                      (c) RELATIONSHIP TO ISSUER
  
        13-6076459                              Employee Benefit Plan of Issuer
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2(d)  ADDRESS STREET
  
        112 Bridge Street
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2(d)  CITY STATE ZIP CODE Naugatuck CT 06770
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
  
  
  INSTRUCTION:  The person filing this notice should  contact the issuer to obtain
                the I.R.S. Identification Number and the SEC File Number.
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
  
  
  3 (a)         (b)                        SEC USE    (c )            (d)           (e)            (f)              (g)
  Title of      Name and Address of Each   ONLY       Number of       Aggregate     Number of      Approximate      Name of Each
  the Class     Broker Through Whom the    Broker-    Shares or       Market        Shares or      Date of Sale     Securities
  of            Securities are to be       Dealer     Other Units     Value         Other Units    (See instr.      Exchange
  Securities    Offered to Each Market     File       to be Sold                    Outstanding    3(f))
  to            Maker who is               Number     (See instr.     (See instr.   (See instr.    (MO. DAY YR.)    (See instr.
  be Sold       Acquiring the Securities              3 (c ))         3(d))         3(e))                           3(g))
  
  ----------    ------------------------   ------    -------------    ----------    -----------    ------------     -------------
  <S>           <C>                        <C>        <C>              <C>          <C>              <C>           <C>
  
  Common        Jefferies & Company, Inc.               36,000          865,440      3,637,192        7/6/05        American
  Stock         11100 Santa Monica Blvd,                                                                            Stock
                11th Floor                                                                                          Exchange
                Los Angeles, CA  90025
  
  </TABLE>
  
  
  INSTRUCTIONS:
  1.(a) Name of issuer
    (b) Issuer's I.R.S. Identification Number
    (c) Issuer'S S.E.C. file number, if any
    (d) Issuer's address, including zip code
    (e) Issuer's telephone number, including area code
  
  2.(a) Name of person for whose account the securities are to be sold
    (b) Such person's I.R.S. identification number, if such person is an entity
    (c) Such person's relationship to the issuer (e.g., officer, director, 10%
        stockholder, or member of immediate family of any of the foregoing)
    (d) Such person's address, including zip code
  
  3.(a) Title of the class of securities to be sold
    (b) Name and address of each broker through whom the securities are intended
        to be sold
    (c) Number of shares or other units to be sold (if debt securities, give the
        aggregate face amount)
    (d) Aggregate market value of the securities to be sold as of a specified date
        within 10 days prior to the filing of this notice
    (e) Number of shares or other units of the class outstanding, or if debit
        securities the face amount thereof outstanding, as shown by the most
        recent report or statement published by the issuer
    (f) Approximate date on which the securities are to be sold
    (g) Name of each securities exchange, if any, on which the securities are
        intended to be sold
  
  
  POTENTIAL PERSONS WHO ARE TO RESPOND TO THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION CONTAINED
  IN THIS FORM ARE NOT REQUIRED TO RESPOND UNLESS THE FORM DISPLAYS A CURRENTLY
  VALID OMB CONTROL NUMBER.
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
  
                           TABLE I - SECURITIES TO BE SOLD
  
  Furnish  the  following  information  with  respect  to the  acquisition  of the
  securities  to be sold and with respect to the payment of all or any part of the
  purchase price or other consideration therefor:
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
  
                            Nature of           Name of Person from Whom             Amount of
  Title of     Date you     Acquisition         Acquired  (If gift,                  Securities    Date of          Nature of
  the Class    Acquired     Transaction         also give date donor acquired)       Acquired      Payment          Payment
  ---------    --------     -----------         ------------------------------       --------      -------          -------
  
  <S>         <C>          <C>                 <C>                                   <C>          <C>             <C>
  Common       8/5/75       Open Market         Open Market Transaction               36,000       August 1975     Cash at time
  Stock          to         Transaction                                               shares       to May 1980     of purchase
               5/19/80
  
  </TABLE>
  
  INSTRUCTIONS:
  
  If the securities were purchased and full payment therefore was not made in cash
  at the time of purchase, explain in the table or in a note thereto the nature of
  the consideration given. If the consideration consisted of any note or other
  obligation, or if payment was made in installments describe the arrangement and
  state when the note or other obligation was discharged in full or the last
  installment paid.
  
  
                 TABLE II - SECURITIES SOLD DURING THE PAST 3 MONTHS
  
  Furnish the following information as to all securities of the issuer sold during
  the past 3 months by the person for whose account the securities are to be sold.
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
  
                                                                               Amount of
  Name and Address of Seller     Title of Securities Sold      Date of Sale    Securities Sold     Gross Proceeds
  --------------------------     -------------------------     ------------    ----------------    --------------
  <S>                            <C>                           <C>             <C>                 <C>
  
  None
  
  </TABLE>
  
  
  REMARKS:
  None
  
  INSTRUCTIONS:
  
  See the definition of "person" in paragraph (a) of Rule 144. Information is to
  be given not only as to the person for whose account the securities are to be
  sold but also as to sales by all persons whose sales are required by paragraph
  (e) of Rule 144 to be aggregated with sales for the account of the person filing
  this notice.
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
  
  ATTENTION:
  
  The person for whose account the securities to which this notice relates are to
  sold hereby represents by signing this notice that he does not know any material
  adverse information in regard to the current and prospective operations of the
  Issuer of the securities to be sold which have not been publicly disclosed.
  
         7/6/05                             /s/John L. Sullivan III
         -------                            ------------------------
     (DATE OF NOTICE)                            (SIGNATURE)
  
  The notice shall be signed by the person for whose account the securities are to
  be sold. At least one copy of the notice shall be manually signed.
  
  
  Any copies not manually signed shall bear typed or printed signatures.
  
  ATTENTION: Intentional misstatements or omission of facts constitute Federal
             Criminal Violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001).
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "form144july2005.txt", "description": "FORM 144", "secsgml_size_bytes": 8795}]
text: UNITED STATES
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                                      FORM 144
  
                        NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF SECURITIES
                PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
  ATTENTION:  Transmit for filing 3 copies of this form  concurrently  with either
  placing an order with a broker to execute sale or executing a sale directly with
  a market maker
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  1(a)  NAME OF ISSUER (Please type or print)
  
        The Eastern Company
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1(b)  IRS IDENT. NO.                      (c) SEC FILE NO.
  
        06-0330020                              0-599
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1(d)  ADDRESS OF ISSUER STREET
  
        112 Bridge Street
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1(d)  CITY STATE ZIP CODE
  
        Naugatuck, CT  06770
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1(e)  TELEPHONE
  
        AREA CODE                           NUMBER
  
        203                                 729-2255
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2(a)  NAME OF PERSON FOR WHOSE ACCOUNT THE SECURITIES ARE TO BE SOLD
  
        Salaried Employees' Retirement Plan of The Eastern Company
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2(b)  IRS IDENT. NO.                      (c) RELATIONSHIP TO ISSUER
  
        13-6076459                              Employee Benefit Plan of Issuer
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2(d)  ADDRESS STREET
  
        112 Bridge Street
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2(d)  CITY STATE ZIP CODE Naugatuck CT 06770
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  INSTRUCTION:  The person filing this notice should  contact the issuer to obtain
                the I.R.S. Identification Number and the SEC File Number.
  3 (a)         (b)                        SEC USE    (c )            (d)           (e)            (f)              (g)
  Title of      Name and Address of Each   ONLY       Number of       Aggregate     Number of      Approximate      Name of Each
  the Class     Broker Through Whom the    Broker-    Shares or       Market        Shares or      Date of Sale     Securities
  of            Securities are to be       Dealer     Other Units     Value         Other Units    (See instr.      Exchange
  Securities    Offered to Each Market     File       to be Sold                    Outstanding    3(f))
  to            Maker who is               Number     (See instr.     (See instr.   (See instr.    (MO. DAY YR.)    (See instr.
  be Sold       Acquiring the Securities              3 (c ))         3(d))         3(e))                           3(g))
  
  ----------    ------------------------   ------    -------------    ----------    -----------    ------------     -------------
  Common        Jefferies & Company, Inc.               36,000          865,440      3,637,192        7/6/05        American
  Stock         11100 Santa Monica Blvd,                                                                            Stock
                11th Floor                                                                                          Exchange
                Los Angeles, CA  90025
  INSTRUCTIONS:
  1.(a) Name of issuer
    (b) Issuer's I.R.S. Identification Number
    (c) Issuer'S S.E.C. file number, if any
    (d) Issuer's address, including zip code
    (e) Issuer's telephone number, including area code
  
  2.(a) Name of person for whose account the securities are to be sold
    (b) Such person's I.R.S. identification number, if such person is an entity
    (c) Such person's relationship to the issuer (e.g., officer, director, 10%
        stockholder, or member of immediate family of any of the foregoing)
    (d) Such person's address, including zip code
  
  3.(a) Title of the class of securities to be sold
    (b) Name and address of each broker through whom the securities are intended
        to be sold
    (c) Number of shares or other units to be sold (if debt securities, give the
        aggregate face amount)
    (d) Aggregate market value of the securities to be sold as of a specified date
        within 10 days prior to the filing of this notice
    (e) Number of shares or other units of the class outstanding, or if debit
        securities the face amount thereof outstanding, as shown by the most
        recent report or statement published by the issuer
    (f) Approximate date on which the securities are to be sold
    (g) Name of each securities exchange, if any, on which the securities are
        intended to be sold
  
  POTENTIAL PERSONS WHO ARE TO RESPOND TO THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION CONTAINED
  IN THIS FORM ARE NOT REQUIRED TO RESPOND UNLESS THE FORM DISPLAYS A CURRENTLY
  VALID OMB CONTROL NUMBER.
  TABLE I - SECURITIES TO BE SOLD
  
  Furnish  the  following  information  with  respect  to the  acquisition  of the
  securities  to be sold and with respect to the payment of all or any part of the
  purchase price or other consideration therefor:
  Nature of           Name of Person from Whom             Amount of
  Title of     Date you     Acquisition         Acquired  (If gift,                  Securities    Date of          Nature of
  the Class    Acquired     Transaction         also give date donor acquired)       Acquired      Payment          Payment
  ---------    --------     -----------         ------------------------------       --------      -------          -------
  Common       8/5/75       Open Market         Open Market Transaction               36,000       August 1975     Cash at time
  Stock          to         Transaction                                               shares       to May 1980     of purchase
               5/19/80
  INSTRUCTIONS:
  
  If the securities were purchased and full payment therefore was not made in cash
  at the time of purchase, explain in the table or in a note thereto the nature of
  the consideration given. If the consideration consisted of any note or other
  obligation, or if payment was made in installments describe the arrangement and
  state when the note or other obligation was discharged in full or the last
  installment paid.
  
                 TABLE II - SECURITIES SOLD DURING THE PAST 3 MONTHS
  
  Furnish the following information as to all securities of the issuer sold during
  the past 3 months by the person for whose account the securities are to be sold.
  Amount of
  Name and Address of Seller     Title of Securities Sold      Date of Sale    Securities Sold     Gross Proceeds
  --------------------------     -------------------------     ------------    ----------------    --------------
  None
  REMARKS:
  None
  
  INSTRUCTIONS:
  
  See the definition of "person" in paragraph (a) of Rule 144. Information is to
  be given not only as to the person for whose account the securities are to be
  sold but also as to sales by all persons whose sales are required by paragraph
  (e) of Rule 144 to be aggregated with sales for the account of the person filing
  this notice.
  ATTENTION:
  
  The person for whose account the securities to which this notice relates are to
  sold hereby represents by signing this notice that he does not know any material
  adverse information in regard to the current and prospective operations of the
  Issuer of the securities to be sold which have not been publicly disclosed.
  
         7/6/05                             /s/John L. Sullivan III
         -------                            ------------------------
     (DATE OF NOTICE)                            (SIGNATURE)
  
  The notice shall be signed by the person for whose account the securities are to
  be sold. At least one copy of the notice shall be manually signed.
  
  Any copies not manually signed shall bear typed or printed signatures.
  
  ATTENTION: Intentional misstatements or omission of facts constitute Federal
             Criminal Violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001).