<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-17-021983.txt : 20170523
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-17-021983.hdr.sgml : 20170523
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170523171811
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-17-021983
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170519
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170523
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170523

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:			MCMANUS MICHAEL A JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001051997

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-35383
		FILM NUMBER:		17864683

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		241-02 NORTHERN BLVD
		CITY:			DOUGLASTON
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11362
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-05-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001051997</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCMANUS MICHAEL A JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>MISONIX, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1938 NEW HIGHWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FARMINGDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11735</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-05-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.90</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8282</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Michael A. McManus, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-05-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
