The Eastern Company (EML) 10-K12 Mar 142013 FY Annual reportFinancial data

Company Profile

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information (USD $)	Dec. 28, 2013	Feb. 28, 2014	Jun. 29, 2013
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'EASTERN CO	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000031107	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-28	'	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$89,106,240
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	6,222,168	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Document Period End Date	28-Dec-13	'	'

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Current Assets	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$19,988,361	$18,482,144
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $410,000 in 2013 and $487,000 in 2012	16,284,603	18,368,774
Inventories:	'	'
Raw materials and component parts	8,256,977	8,473,007
Work in process	4,925,001	6,160,578
Finished goods	17,475,634	14,751,195
Inventories	30,657,612	29,384,780
Prepaid expenses and other assets	3,244,686	3,365,904
Recoverable income taxes receivable	0	1,158,632
Deferred income taxes	818,662	1,064,202
Total Current Assets	70,993,924	71,824,436
Property, Plant and Equipment	'	'
Land	1,161,343	1,152,970
Buildings	15,736,794	14,490,407
Machinery and equipment	44,951,717	42,486,647
Accumulated depreciation	-34,458,096	-32,469,281
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	27,391,758	25,660,743
Other Assets	'	'
Goodwill	13,842,047	13,933,599
Trademarks	173,177	170,512
Patents, technology and other intangibles net of accumulated amortization	1,457,503	1,653,957
Deferred income taxes	0	2,610,903
Total Other Assets	15,472,727	18,368,971
TOTAL ASSETS	113,858,409	115,854,150
Current Liabilities	'	'
Accounts payable	7,302,368	7,607,658
Accrued compensation	3,007,169	3,453,709
Other accrued expenses	1,519,338	2,414,135
Current portion of long-term debt	1,785,714	1,428,571
Total Current Liabilities	13,614,589	14,904,073
Deferred income taxes	1,111,755	0
Other long-term liabilities	248,417	607,463
Long-term debt, less current portion	4,285,714	6,071,428
Accrued postretirement benefits	2,232,872	2,507,726
Accrued pension cost	10,860,211	20,181,361
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 3)	'	'
Shareholders' Equity	'	'
Voting Preferred Stock, no par value: Authorized and unissued: 1,000,000 shares	'	'
Nonvoting Preferred Stock, no par value: Authorized and unissued: 1,000,000 shares	'	'
Common Stock, no par value: Authorized: 50,000,000 shares Issued: 8,916,897 shares in 2013 and 8,914,478 shares in 2012	28,621,582	28,585,498
Treasury Stock: 2,694,729 shares in 2013 and 2012	-19,105,723	-19,105,723
Retained earnings	83,006,671	78,717,589
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):	'	'
Foreign currency translation	1,983,506	2,640,478
Unrecognized net pension and postretirement benefit costs, net of taxes	-13,001,185	-19,255,743
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-11,017,679	-16,615,265
Total Shareholders' Equity	81,504,851	71,582,099
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	$113,858,409	$115,854,150

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Current Assets	'	'
Accounts receivable, allowances	$410,000	$487,000
Shareholders' Equity	'	'
Voting Preferred Stock, no par value (in dollars per share)	$0	$0
Voting Preferred Stock, shares authorized (in shares)	1,000,000	1,000,000
Nonvoting Preferred Stock, no par value (in dollars per share)	$0	$0
Nonvoting Preferred Stock, shares authorized (in shares)	1,000,000	1,000,000
Common Stock, no par value (in dollars per share)	$0	$0
Common Stock, shares authorized (in shares)	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued (in shares)	8,916,897	8,914,478
Treasury Stock, shares (in shares)	2,694,729	2,694,729

Consolidated_Statements_of_Inc

Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $)	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net sales	$142,458,279	$157,509,185	$142,856,049
Cost of products sold	-112,310,759	-124,156,707	-115,504,443
Gross margin	30,147,520	33,352,478	27,351,606
Selling and administrative expenses	-19,761,199	-19,801,055	-18,639,426
Operating profit	10,386,321	13,551,423	8,712,180
Interest expense	-322,731	-369,357	-231,481
Other income	50,305	42,452	26,230
Income before income taxes	10,113,895	13,224,518	8,506,929
Income taxes	3,211,974	4,598,718	3,001,999
Net income	$6,901,921	$8,625,800	$5,504,930
Earnings per Share:	'	'	'
Basic (in dollars per share)	$1.11	$1.39	$0.89
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$1.11	$1.38	$0.89

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net income	$6,901,921	$8,625,800	$5,504,930
Other comprehensive income/(loss) -	'	'	'
Change in foreign currency translation	-656,972	533,291	-341,488
Change in pension and postretirement benefit costs, net of income taxes (expense)/benefit of ($3,437,175) in 2013, $2,053,255 in 2012 and $2,507,762 in 2011	6,254,558	-3,712,466	-4,607,131
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)	5,597,586	-3,179,175	-4,948,619
Comprehensive income	$12,499,507	$5,446,625	$556,311

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com1

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Other comprehensive income/(loss) -	'	'	'
Change in pension and postretirement benefit costs, taxes (expense) benefit	($3,437,175)	$2,053,255	$2,507,762

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sha

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (USD $)	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Total
Balances at Jan. 01, 2011	$27,717,318	($19,105,723)	$69,919,619	($8,487,471)	$70,043,743
Balances (in shares) at Jan. 01, 2011	8,852,762	-2,694,729	'	'	'
Net income	'	'	5,504,930	'	5,504,930
Cash dividends declared	'	'	-2,224,187	'	-2,224,187
Currency translation adjustment	'	'	'	-341,488	-341,488
Change in pension and postretirement benefit costs, net of tax	'	'	'	-4,607,131	-4,607,131
Issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise of stock options	651,390	'	'	'	651,390
Issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise of stock options (in shares)	54,500	'	'	'	'
Tax benefit from exercise of non-qualified stock options and disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options	106,471	'	'	'	106,471
Issuance of Common Stock for directors' fees	24,600	'	'	'	24,600
Issuance of Common Stock for directors' fees (in shares)	1,345	'	'	'	'
Balances at Dec. 31, 2011	28,499,779	-19,105,723	73,200,362	-13,436,090	69,158,328
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	8,908,607	-2,694,729	'	'	'
Net income	'	'	8,625,800	'	8,625,800
Cash dividends declared	'	'	-3,108,577	'	-3,108,577
Miscellaneous	'	'	4	'	4
Currency translation adjustment	'	'	'	533,291	533,291
Change in pension and postretirement benefit costs, net of tax	'	'	'	-3,712,466	-3,712,466
Issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise of stock options	61,110	'	'	'	61,110
Issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise of stock options (in shares)	4,500	'	'	'	'
Tax benefit from exercise of non-qualified stock options and disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options	'	'	'	'	0
Issuance of Common Stock for directors' fees	24,609	'	'	'	24,609
Issuance of Common Stock for directors' fees (in shares)	1,371	'	'	'	'
Balances at Dec. 29, 2012	28,585,498	-19,105,723	78,717,589	-16,615,265	71,582,099
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 29, 2012	8,914,478	-2,694,729	'	'	'
Net income	'	'	6,901,921	'	6,901,921
Cash dividends declared	'	'	-2,612,839	'	-2,612,839
Currency translation adjustment	'	'	'	-656,972	-656,972
Change in pension and postretirement benefit costs, net of tax	'	'	'	6,254,558	6,254,558
Issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise of stock options	13,580	'	'	'	13,580
Issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise of stock options (in shares)	1,000	'	'	'	'
Tax benefit from exercise of non-qualified stock options and disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options	'	'	'	'	0
Issuance of Common Stock for directors' fees	22,504	'	'	'	22,504
Issuance of Common Stock for directors' fees (in shares)	1,419	'	'	'	'
Balances at Dec. 28, 2013	$28,621,582	($19,105,723)	$83,006,671	($11,017,679)	$81,504,851
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 28, 2013	8,916,897	-2,694,729	'	'	'

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sha1

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity [Abstract]	'	'	'
Cash dividends declared, per share (in dollars per share)	$0.42	$0.50	$0.36

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating Activities	'	'	'
Net income	$6,901,921	$8,625,800	$5,504,930
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	3,825,286	3,439,800	3,707,216
(Gain)/loss on sale of equipment and other assets	116,327	-1,500	-1,602
Provision for doubtful accounts	106,485	147,313	44,502
Deferred income taxes	531,023	1,101,701	1,847,272
Issuance of Common Stock for directors' fees	22,504	24,609	24,600
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	'	'	'
Accounts receivable	1,776,744	307,524	-2,470,834
Inventories	-1,400,893	586,576	-1,825,171
Prepaid expenses and other	308,653	-24,741	10,870
Prepaid pension cost	-111,945	-865,831	-4,924,402
Recoverable taxes receivable	1,158,632	-510,683	-647,949
Other assets	-76,426	-124,598	-81,750
Accounts payable	-253,994	-889,663	960,205
Accrued compensation	-626,385	439,537	14,802
Other accrued expenses	-960,896	1,389,988	-716,233
Net cash provided by operating activities	11,317,036	13,645,832	1,446,456
Investing Activities	'	'	'
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	-5,523,742	-4,216,970	-3,394,726
Proceeds from sale of equipment and other assets	2,839	44,184	4,000
Net cash used in investing activities	-5,520,903	-4,172,786	-3,390,726
Financing Activities	'	'	'
Principal payments on long-term debt	-1,428,571	-1,250,000	-714,286
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	0	5,000,000	0
Principal payments on revolving credit loan	0	-3,000,000	'
Proceeds from revolving credit loan	0	0	3,000,000
Proceeds from sales of Common Stock	13,580	61,110	651,390
Tax benefit from disqualifying disposition of incentive stock options and exercise of non-qualified stock options	0	0	106,471
Dividends paid	-2,612,839	-3,108,577	-2,224,187
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	-4,027,830	-2,297,467	819,388
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	-262,086	159,268	47,571
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	1,506,217	7,334,847	-1,077,311
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	18,482,144	11,147,297	12,224,608
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$19,988,361	$18,482,144	$11,147,297

DESCRIPTION_OF_BUSINESS

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	12 Months Ended
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	Dec. 28, 2013
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS [Abstract]	'
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	'
	1. Description of Business

	The operations of The Eastern Company (the “Company”) consist of three business segments: industrial hardware, security products, and metal products. The industrial hardware segment produces latching devices for use on industrial equipment and instrumentation, composite panels used primarily in the transportation and electronic white board industries, as well as a broad line of proprietary hardware designed for truck bodies and other vehicular type equipment. The security products segment manufactures and markets a broad range of locks for traditional general purpose security applications as well as specialized locks for soft luggage, coin-operated vending and gaming equipment, and electric and computer peripheral components. This segment also manufactures and markets coin acceptors and metering systems to secure cash used in the commercial laundry industry and produces cashless payment systems utilizing advanced smart card technology. The metal products segment produces anchoring devices used in supporting the roofs of underground coal mines and specialty products, which serve the construction, automotive, railroad and electrical industries.

	Sales are made to customers primarily in North America.

ACCOUNTING_POLICIES

ACCOUNTING POLICIES	12 Months Ended
ACCOUNTING POLICIES	Dec. 28, 2013
ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]	'
ACCOUNTING POLICIES	'
	2. Accounting Policies

	Estimates and Assumptions

	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

	Fiscal Year

	The Company’s year ends on the Saturday nearest to December 31.

	Principles of Consolidation

	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated.

	Cash Equivalents and Concentrations of Credit Risk

	Highly liquid investments purchased with a maturity of three months or less are considered cash equivalents. The Company has deposits that exceed amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to $250,000, but the Company does not consider this a significant concentration of credit risk based on the strength of the financial institution.

	Foreign Currency Translation

	For foreign operations balance sheet accounts are translated at the current year-end exchange rate; income statement accounts are translated at the average exchange rate for the year. Resulting translation adjustments are made directly to a separate component of shareholders’ equity – “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) – Foreign currency translation”. Foreign currency exchange transaction gains and losses are not material in any year.

	Recognition of Revenue and Accounts Receivable

	Revenue and accounts receivable are recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the price is fixed and determinable, delivery has occurred, and there is a reasonable assurance of collection of the sales proceeds. The Company obtains written purchase authorizations from its customers for a specified amount of product at a specified price and delivery occurs at the time of shipment. Credit is extended based on an evaluation of each customer’s financial condition; collateral is not required. Accounts receivable are recorded net of applicable allowances. No customer exceeded 10% of total accounts receivable at year end 2013 or 2012.

	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

	The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The Company reviews the collectibility of its receivables on an ongoing basis taking into account a combination of factors. The Company reviews potential problems, such as past due accounts, a bankruptcy filing or deterioration in the customer’s financial condition, to ensure the Company is adequately accrued for potential loss. Accounts are considered past due based on when payment was originally due. If a customer’s situation changes, such as a bankruptcy or creditworthiness, or there is a change in the current economic climate, the Company may modify its estimate of the allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company will write off accounts receivable after reasonable collection efforts have been made and the accounts are deemed uncollectible. Write-offs have been within management’s estimates.

	Inventories

	Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method in the U.S. ($23,922,496 for U.S. inventories at December 28, 2013) and by the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method for inventories outside the U.S. ($6,735,116 for inventories outside the U.S. at December 28, 2013). Current cost exceeds the LIFO carrying value by approximately $6,689,000 at December 28, 2013 and $6,302,000 at December 29, 2012. There was no material LIFO quantity liquidation in 2013, 2012 or 2011.

	Property, Plant and Equipment and Related Depreciation

	Property, plant and equipment (including equipment under capital lease) are stated at cost. Depreciation ($3,592,263 in 2013, $3,210,324 in 2012 and $3,155,717 in 2011) is computed generally using the straight-line method based on the following estimated useful lives of the assets: Buildings 10 to 39.5 years; Machinery and equipment 3 to 10 years.

	Goodwill, Intangibles and Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

	Patents are recorded at cost and are amortized using the straight-line method over the lives of the patents. Technology and licenses are recorded at cost and are generally amortized on a straight-line basis over periods ranging from 5 to 17 years. Non-compete agreements and customer relationships are being amortized using the straight-line method over a period of 5 years. Amortization expense in 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $233,023, $229,476 and $551,499, respectively. Total amortization expense for each of the next five years is estimated to be as follows: 2014 - $231,000; 2015 - $231,000; 2016 - $231,000; 2017 - $231,000; and 2018 - $231,000. Trademarks are not amortized as their lives are deemed to be indefinite.

	The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of amortizable intangible assets:

			Industrial			Security			Metal			Total		Weighted-Average
			Hardware			Products			Products					Amortization Period (Years)
			Segment			Segment			Segment
	2013 Patents and developed technology
	Gross Amount:		$	2,595,931		$	1,041,250		$	--		$	3,637,181		16
	Accumulated amortization:			1,676,440			503,238			--			2,179,678
	Net 2013 per Balance Sheet		$	919,491		$	538,012		$	--		$	1,457,503

	2012 Patents and developed technology
	Gross Amount:		$	2,732,307		$	1,021,409		$	5,839		$	3,759,555		15.8
	Accumulated amortization:			1,652,199			447,732			5,667			2,105,598
	Net 2012 per Balance Sheet		$	1,080,108		$	573,677		$	172		$	1,653,957


	In the event that facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of long-lived assets, including definite life intangible assets, may be impaired, an evaluation is performed to determine if a write-down is required. No events or changes in circumstances have occurred to indicate that the carrying amount of such long-lived assets held and used may not be recovered.

	During the third quarter of 2012 the Company elected to change its annual impairment testing of goodwill and trademarks from the second quarter of its fiscal year to the fourth quarter of its fiscal year. The Company discussed this change in accounting principle with its Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and attached their Preference Letter as an exhibit to the Form 10-Q for the quarter ending September 29, 2012. The Company completed a qualitative assessment in the second quarter of 2012 and determined it is more likely than not that no impairment of goodwill existed at that time. The Company performed additional qualitative assessments as of the end of fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2013 and determined it is more likely than not that no impairment of goodwill existed at the end of 2013 or 2012. The Company will perform annual qualitative assessments in subsequent years as of the end of each fiscal year. Additionally, the Company will perform interim analysis whenever conditions warrant.

	Goodwill or trademarks would be considered impaired whenever our historical carrying amount exceeds the fair value. Goodwill and trademarks were not impaired in 2013, 2012 or 2011. Should we reach a different conclusion in the future, additional work would be performed to determine the amount of the non-cash impairment charge to be recognized. The maximum future impairment of goodwill or trademarks that could occur is the amount recognized on our balance sheet.

The following is a roll-forward of goodwill for 2013 and 2012:

		Industrial			Security			Metal			Total
		Hardware			Products			Products
		Segment			Segment			Segment
2013
Beginning balance		$	2,099,783		$	11,833,816		$	—		$	13,933,599
Foreign exchange			(91,552	)		—			—			(91,552	)
Ending balance		$	2,008,231		$	11,833,816		$	—		$	13,842,047

		Industrial			Security			Metal			Total
		Hardware			Products			Products
		Segment			Segment			Segment
2012
Beginning balance		$	2,071,393		$	11,833,816		$	—		$	13,905,209
Foreign exchange			28,390			—			—			28,390
Ending balance		$	2,099,783		$	11,833,816		$	—		$	13,933,599

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold reflects the cost of purchasing, manufacturing and preparing a product for sale. These costs generally represent the expenses to acquire or manufacture products for sale (including an allocation of depreciation and amortization) and are primarily comprised of direct materials, direct labor as well as overhead which includes indirect labor, facility and equipment costs, inbound freight, receiving, inspection, purchasing, warehousing and any other costs related to the purchasing, manufacturing or preparation of a product for sale.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of goods sold.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses include all operating costs of the Company that are not directly related to the cost of purchasing, manufacturing and preparing a product for sale. These expenses generally represent the cost of selling or distributing the product once it is available for sale as well as administrative expenses for support functions and related overhead.

Product Development Costs

Product development costs, charged to expense as incurred, were $991,286 in 2013, $814,096 in 2012 and $825,778 in 2011.

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs were $486,027 in 2013, $442,300 in 2012 and $386,908 in 2011.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions pursuant to the provisions of FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740 which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in a company’s financial statements. These provisions detail how companies should recognize, measure, present and disclose uncertain tax positions that have or are expected to be taken. As such, the financial statements will reflect expected future tax consequences of uncertain tax positions presuming the taxing authorities’ full knowledge of the position and all relevant facts. See Note 7 Income Taxes.

The Company and its U.S. subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse.

Earnings per Share

The denominators used in the earnings per share computations follow:

		2013			2012			2011
Basic:
Weighted average shares outstanding			6,220,928			6,216,931			6,178,664

Diluted:
Weighted average shares outstanding			6,220,928			6,216,931			6,178,664
Dilutive stock options			16,830			16,444			37,529
Denominator for diluted earnings per share			6,237,758			6,233,375			6,216,193

There were no anti-dilutive stock options in 2013, 2012 or 2011.

Derivatives

The Company does not maintain any derivatives as of the date of this report.

Stock Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock based compensation pursuant to the fair value recognition provisions of ASC 718. No stock options were granted in 2013, 2012 or 2011, and, since all outstanding options were fully vested in each year presented, there was no impact on the financial statements.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The company utilizes a fair value hierarchy, which maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The fair value hierarchy has three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1	Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.
Level 2	Quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3	Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

The carrying amounts of financial instruments (cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and debt) as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, approximate fair value. Fair value was based on expected cash flows and current market conditions.

CONTINGENCIES

CONTINGENCIES	12 Months Ended
CONTINGENCIES	Dec. 28, 2013
CONTINGENCIES [Abstract]	'
CONTINGENCIES	'
	3. Contingencies

	The Company is party to various legal proceedings and claims related to its normal business operations. In the opinion of management, the Company has substantial and meritorious defenses for these claims and proceedings in which it is a defendant, and believes these matters will ultimately be resolved without a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity of the Company. The aggregate provision for losses related to contingencies arising in the ordinary course of business was not material to operating results for any year presented.

	During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company was contacted by the State of Illinois regarding potential ground contamination at our plant in Wheeling, Illinois. The Company signed up with a voluntary remediation program in Illinois and has engaged an environmental clean-up company to perform testing and develop a remediation plan, if needed. No estimate for the cost of remediation was available when this Form 10-K was filed with the SEC.

	Approximately 33% of the total workforce is subject to negotiated union contracts, and approximately 3% of the total workforce is covered by such agreements that expire during 2014.

DEBT

DEBT	12 Months Ended
DEBT	Dec. 28, 2013
DEBT [Abstract]	'
DEBT	'
	4. Debt

	On January 29, 2010, the Company signed a secured Loan Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with People’s United Bank (“People’s”) which included a $5,000,000 term portion and a $10,000,000 revolving credit portion. The term portion of the loan requires quarterly principal payments of $178,571 for a period of seven (7) years, maturing on January 31, 2017. The revolving credit portion had a quarterly commitment fee of one quarter of one percent (0.25%), and a maturity date of January 31, 2012. The proceeds of the term portion along with the Company’s available cash were used to retire the remaining portion of the debt with our former lender, Bank of America, N.A., which on January 29, 2010 totaled $10,714,286.

	On January 25, 2012 the Company amended the Loan Agreement by taking an additional $5,000,000 term loan (the “2012 Term Loan”). The 2012 Term Loan requires quarterly principal payments of $178,571 for a period of seven (7) years, maturing on January 31, 2019. At the same time the maturity date of the revolving credit portion was extended to January 31, 2014 and continued to have a quarterly commitment fee of one quarter of one percent (0.25%).

	Interest on the original term portion of the Loan Agreement is fixed at 4.98%. Interest on the 2012 Term Loan is fixed at 3.90%. For the period from January 29, 2010 to January 25, 2012, the interest rate on the revolving credit portion of the Loan Agreement varied based on the LIBOR rate or People’s Prime rate plus a margin spread of 2.25%, with a floor rate of 4.0%. As part of the amendment signed on January 25, 2012, this was changed to the LIBOR rate or People’s Prime rate plus 2.25%, with a floor of 3.25%; additionally the maturity date was extended to January 31, 2014. During December 2011, the Company used $3,000,000 of the line of credit, the proceeds of which, along with existing cash, were used to fund a discretionary pension payment made in December, 2011. The Company did not utilize the revolving credit portion of the Loan Agreement at any other time during 2012 or 2013.

	On January 23, 2014, the Company amended the Loan Agreement with People’s. The amendment renewed and extended the maturity date of the revolving credit portion of the Loan Agreement to July 1, 2016 and changes the interest rate to LIBOR plus 2.25%, and eliminated the 3.25% floor previously in place. The quarterly commitment fee of one quarter of one percent (0.25%) remained unchanged.

	Debt consists of:

		2013		2012
	Term loans	$	6,071,428	$	7,499,999
	Revolving credit loan		—		—
			6,071,428		7,499,999
	Less current portion		1,785,714		1,428,571
		$	4,285,714	$	6,071,428

	The Company paid interest of $319,760 in 2013, $349,972 in 2012, and $240,635 in 2011.

	The Company’s loan covenants under the Loan Agreement require the Company to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.1 to 1, a leverage ratio of no more than 1.75 to 1, and minimum tangible net worth of $43 million increasing each year by 50% of consolidated net income. This amount was approximately $52.8 million and $48.5 million as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively. In addition, the Company has restrictions on, among other things, new capital leases, purchases or redemptions of its capital stock, mergers and divestitures, and new borrowing. The Company was in compliance with all covenants in 2012 and 2013.

	As part of the amendment to the Loan Agreement signed on January 23, 2014, the leverage ratio was eliminated, and the minimum tangible net worth covenant was modified to a fixed minimum amount of $55 million, effective with the end of the Company’s first quarter of 2014.

	The quarterly payment dates as listed in the Loan Agreement are the first business day of the calendar quarter. As a result, there will be five scheduled payments in Fiscal 2014 and three in Fiscal 2015. As of December 28, 2013, scheduled annual principal maturities of long-term debt for each of the next five years follow:

	2014	$	1,785,714
	2015		1,071,429
	2016		1,428,571
	2017		892,857
	2018		714,286
	Thereafter		178,571
		$	6,071,428

STOCK_RIGHTS

STOCK RIGHTS	12 Months Ended
STOCK RIGHTS	Dec. 28, 2013
STOCK RIGHTS [Abstract]	'
STOCK RIGHTS	'
	5. Stock Rights

	The Company has a stock rights plan. At December 28, 2013, there were 6,222,168 stock rights outstanding under the plan. Each right may be exercised to purchase one share of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $80.00, subject to adjustment to prevent dilution.

	The rights generally become exercisable ten days after an individual or group acquires 10% or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock, or after the commencement or announcement of an offer to acquire 10% or more of the Company’s common stock. The stock rights, which do not have voting privileges, expire on July 23, 2018, and may be redeemed by the Company at a price of $0.01 per right at any time prior to their expiration at the discretion of the Board of Directors. In the event that the Company were acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction, provision shall be made so that each holder of a right shall have the right to receive, upon exercise of the right at its then current exercise price, that number of shares of common stock of the surviving company which at the time of such transaction would have a market value of two times the exercise price of the right.

STOCK_OPTIONS_AND_AWARDS

STOCK OPTIONS AND AWARDS	12 Months Ended
STOCK OPTIONS AND AWARDS	Dec. 28, 2013
STOCK OPTIONS AND AWARDS [Abstract]	'
STOCK OPTIONS AND AWARDS	'
	6. Stock Options and Awards

	Stock Options

	The Company has stock option plans for officers, other key employees, and non-employee directors. At the end of 2013 two plans have shares reserved for future issuance, the 1995 and 2010 plans. Incentive stock options granted under the 1995 and 2010 plans must have exercise prices that are not less than 100% of the fair market value of the stock on the dates the options are granted. Restricted stock awards may also be granted to participants under the 1995 and 2010 plans with restrictions determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. Under the 1995 and 2010 plans, non-qualified stock options granted to participants will have exercise prices determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. No options or restricted stock were granted in 2013, 2012 or 2011.

	As of December 28, 2013, there were 500,000 shares available for future grant under the above noted 2010 plan and there were no shares available for grant under the 1995 plan. As of December 28, 2013, there were 520,000 shares of common stock reserved under all option plans for future issuance.

	Information with respect to the Company’s stock option plans is summarized below:

			Shares				Weighted Average
			Shares				Exercise Price
	Outstanding at January 1, 2011			80,000			$	12.471
	Exercised			(54,500	)			11.952
	Outstanding at December 31, 2011			25,500				13.58
	Exercised			(4,500	)			13.58
	Outstanding at December 29, 2012			21,000				13.58
	Exercised			(1,000	)			13.58
	Outstanding at December 28, 2013			20,000				13.58

	Options Outstanding and Exercisable
	Range of Exercise Prices				Outstanding and Exercisable as of December 28, 2013				Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life		Weighted Average Exercise Price
	$	13.58				20,000				1		$	13.58

	At December 28, 2013, outstanding and exercisable options had an intrinsic value of $50,400. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised in 2013 was $1,590.

INCOME_TAXES

INCOME TAXES	12 Months Ended
INCOME TAXES	Dec. 28, 2013
INCOME TAXES [Abstract]	'
INCOME TAXES	'
	7. Income Taxes

	Deferred income taxes are provided on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and those for income tax reporting purposes. Deferred income tax (assets) liabilities relate to:

			2013				2012				2011
	Property, plant and equipment		$	6,184,873			$	5,942,048			$	5,480,102
	Other			208,938				—				—
	Total deferred income tax liabilities			6,393,811				5,942,048				5,480,102

	Other postretirement benefits			(787,087	)			(885,729	)			(653,238	)
	Inventories			(848,364	)			(761,613	)			(1,005,134	)
	Allowance for doubtful accounts			(104,695	)			(104,903	)			(94,120	)
	Intangible assets			(373,482	)			(422,443	)			(472,243	)
	Accrued compensation			(158,866	)			(197,582	)			(224,155	)
	Pensions			(3,828,224	)			(7,128,057	)			(5,573,596	)
	Other			—				(116,826	)			(160,876	)
	Total deferred income tax assets			(6,100,718	)			(9,617,153	)			(8,183,362	)
	Net deferred income tax (assets) liabilities		$	293,093			$	(3,675,105	)		$	(2,703,260	)

	Income before income taxes consists of:

			2013				2012				2011
	Domestic		$	7,139,039			$	8,614,664			$	5,180,467
	Foreign			2,974,856				4,609,854				3,326,462
			$	10,113,895			$	13,224,518			$	8,506,929

	The provision for income taxes follows:

			2013				2012				2011
	Current:
	Federal		$	1,942,271			$	1,909,172			$	214,988
	Foreign			871,949				1,367,025				830,028
	State			162,952				220,820				109,711
	Deferred:
	Federal			241,821				1,022,660				1,747,620
	Foreign			—				—				—
	State			(7,019	)			79,041				99,652
			$	3,211,974			$	4,598,718			$	3,001,999

	A reconciliation of income taxes computed using the U.S. federal statutory rate to that reflected in operations follows:

			2013								2012						2011
			Amount				Percent				Amount			Percent			Amount			Percent
	Income taxes using U.S. federal statutory rate		$	3,438,724				34	%		$	4,496,336			34	%	$	2,892,356			34	%
	State income taxes, net of federal benefit			99,245				1				188,490			2			133,201			2
	Impact of foreign subsidiaries on effective tax rate			(103,878	)			(1	)			136,590			1			21,329			-
	Impact of manufacturers deduction on effective tax rate			(138,127	)			(1	)			(232,928	)		(2	)		(50,537	)		(1	)
	Other—net			(83,990	)			(1	)			10,230			-			5,650			-
			$	3,211,974				32	%		$	4,598,718			35	%	$	3,001,999			35	%

	Total income taxes paid were $2,568,708 in 2013, $3,350,283 in 2012 and $1,631,299 in 2011.

	United States income taxes have been provided on the undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries ($13,791,838 at December 28, 2013) only where necessary because such earnings are intended to be reinvested abroad indefinitely or repatriated only when substantially free of such taxes. The Company would be required to accrue and pay United States income taxes to repatriate the funds held by foreign subsidiaries not otherwise provided.

	During 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company received tax benefits of $0, $0 and $106,000, respectively, as a result of the exercise and sale of incentive stock options that resulted in the disqualification of those incentive stock options, and the exercise of non-qualified stock options during the year. The tax benefit associated with the exercise of the incentive and non-qualified stock options has been recorded to common stock.

	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits are as follows:

			2013				2012				2011

	Balance at beginning of year		$	499,624			$	486,332			$	495,843
	Increases for positions taken during the current period			49,636				119,893				25,398
	Decreases relating to settlements			(263,856	)			—				—
Decreases resulting from the expiration of the statute of limitations			(65,115	)			(106,601	)			(34,909	)
Balance at end of year		$	220,289			$	499,624			$	486,332

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various states and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2010 and non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities prior to 2007.

Included in the balance at December 28, 2013, are $145,391 of unrecognized tax benefits that would affect the annual effective tax rate. In 2013, the Company recognized accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. The Company had approximately $28,000 of accrued interest at December 28, 2013.

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits could increase or decrease within the next twelve months for a number of reasons, including the closure of federal, state and foreign tax years by expiration of the statute of limitations and the recognition and measurement considerations under ASC 740. The Company believes that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will not increase or decrease significantly over the next twelve months.

LEASES

LEASES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
LEASES [Abstract]	'
LEASES	'
	8. Leases

	The Company leases certain equipment and buildings under operating lease arrangements. Most leases are for a fixed term and for a fixed amount; additionally, the Company leases certain buildings under operating leases on a month-to-month basis. The Company is not a party to any leases that have step rent provisions, escalation clauses, capital improvement funding or payment increases based on any index or rate.

	Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year during each of the next five years follow:

	2014	$	1,071,929
	2015		1,098,323
	2016		521,097
	2017		313,845
	2018		134,228
		$	3,139,422

	Rent expense for all operating leases was $1,093,895 in 2013, $1,159,913 in 2012 and $1,243,494 in 2011. The Company expects future rent expense, including non-cancelable operating leases, leases that are expected to be renewed and buildings leased on a month-to-month basis, for each of the next five years to be in the range of $1,100,000 to $1,300,000.

RETIREMENT_BENEFIT_PLANS

RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS	12 Months Ended
RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS	Dec. 28, 2013
RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS [Abstract]	'
RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS	'
	9. Retirement Benefit Plans

	The Company has non-contributory defined benefit pension plans covering most U.S. employees. Plan benefits are generally based upon age at retirement, years of service and, for its salaried plan, the level of compensation. The Company also sponsors unfunded non-qualified supplemental retirement plans that provide certain current and former officers with benefits in excess of limits imposed by federal tax law.

	On December 21, 2011, the Company made a $5,000,000 discretionary payment into its salaried pension plan. The major reasons why the Company made this discretionary payment were to reduce current year tax payments, to reduce future years’ pension expense, and to attempt to take advantage of the spread between borrowing rates and expected investment return.

	The Company also provides health care and life insurance for retired salaried employees in the United States who meet specific eligibility requirements.

	Components of the net periodic benefit cost of the Company’s pension benefit plans were as follows:

			2013				2012				2011
	Service cost		$	3,028,863			$	2,642,373			$	2,141,306
	Interest cost			2,840,622				2,868,528				2,949,672
	Expected return on plan assets			(4,827,393	)			(3,930,988	)			(3,650,282	)
	Amortization of prior service cost			256,459				221,049				194,148
	Amortization of the net loss			1,844,139				1,111,900				897,052
	Net periodic benefit cost		$	3,142,690			$	2,912,862			$	2,531,896

	Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s pension benefit plans for the fiscal year indicated were as follows:

			2013				2012				2011
	Discount rate			3.9	%			4.55	%			5.35	%
	Expected return on plan assets			8	%			8	%			8.5	%
	Rate of compensation increase			3.25	%			3.25	%			4.25	%

	Components of the net periodic benefit cost of the Company’s postretirement benefit plan were as follows:

			2013				2012				2011
	Service cost		$	202,568			$	173,613			$	126,464
	Interest cost			142,086				143,388				136,752
	Expected return on plan assets			(73,920	)			(46,255	)			(52,920	)
	Amortization of prior service cost			(23,888	)			(23,889	)			(23,888	)
	Amortization of the net loss			(4,608	)			(50,784	)			(46,380	)
	Net periodic benefit cost		$	242,238			$	196,073			$	140,028

	Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s postretirement plan for the fiscal year indicated were as follows:

			2013				2012				2011
	Discount rate			3.9	%			4.55	%			5.35	%
	Expected return on plan assets			8	%			8	%			8.5	%

	As of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, the status of the Company’s pension benefit plans and postretirement benefit plan was as follows:

			Pension Benefit								Postretirement Benefit
			2013				2012				2013				2012
	Benefit obligation at beginning of year		$	74,825,969			$	64,709,379			$	3,712,505			$	3,069,155
	Change due to availability of final actual assets and census data			—				—				—				151,397
	Plan amendment			132,378				831,201				—				—
	Service cost			3,028,863				2,642,373				202,568				173,613
	Interest cost			2,840,622				2,868,528				142,086				143,388
	Actuarial (gain)/loss			(7,187,997	)			6,117,680				(498,446	)			301,076
	Benefits paid			(2,428,637	)			(2,343,192	)			(138,238	)			(126,124	)
	Benefit obligation at end of year		$	71,211,198			$	74,825,969			$	3,420,475			$	3,712,505

			Pension Benefit								Postretirement Benefit
			2013				2012				2013				2012
	Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year		$	54,644,608			$	48,897,760			$	1,204,779			$	1,215,998
	Change due to availability of final actual assets and census data			—				—				12,577				(3,005	)
	Actual return on plan assets			4,880,381				4,311,348				73,920				46,255
	Employer contributions			3,254,635				3,778,692				34,565				71,655
	Benefits paid			(2,428,637	)			(2,343,192	)			(138,238	)			(126,124	)
	Fair value of plan assets at end of year		$	60,350,987			$	54,644,608			$	1,187,603			$	1,204,779

		Pension Benefit								Postretirement Benefit
Funded Status		2013				2012				2013				2012
Net amount recognized in the balance sheet		$	(10,860,211	)		$	(20,181,361	)		$	(2,232,872	)		$	(2,507,726	)

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:

		Pension Benefit								Postretirement Benefit
		2013				2012				2013				2012
Net loss		$	(19,261,651	)		$	(28,346,776	)		$	(115,052	)		$	(621,467	)
Prior service (cost) credit			(813,855	)			(937,936	)			111,508				135,396
		$	(20,075,506	)		$	(29,284,712	)		$	(3,544	)		$	(486,071	)

Change in the components of accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:

		Pension Benefit								Postretirement Benefit
		2013				2012				2013				2012
Balance at beginning of period		$	(29,284,712	)		$	(24,049,140	)		$	(486,071	)		$	44,080
Change due to availability of final actual assets and census data			—				—				12,577				(154,402	)
Charged to net periodic benefit cost
Prior service cost			256,459				221,049				(23,888	)			(23,889	)
Net loss (gain)			1,844,139				1,111,900				(4,608	)			(50,784	)
Other changes
Liability (gains)/losses			7,108,608				(6,568,521	)			498,446				(301,076	)
Balance at end of period		$	(20,075,506	)		$	(29,284,712	)		$	(3,544	)		$	(486,071	)

In 2014, the net periodic pension benefit cost will include $944,130 of net loss and $218,585 of prior service cost and the net periodic postretirement benefit cost will include $0 of net gain and $24,000 of prior service credit.

Assumptions used to determine the projected benefit obligations for the Company’s pension benefit plans and postretirement benefit plan for the fiscal year indicated were as follows:

		2013				2012
Discount rate			4.8	%			3.9	%
Expected return on plan assets			8	%			8	%
Rate of compensation increase			3.25	%			3.25	%

In 2013 and 2012, the accumulated benefit obligation for all qualified and nonqualified defined benefit pension plans was $71,403,778 and $66,735,124, respectively.

Information for the under-funded pension plans with a projected benefit obligation and an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets:

		2013				2012
Number of plans		5*					6
Projected benefit obligation		$	68,781,752			$	74,825,969
Accumulated benefit obligation			68,974,332				66,735,124
Fair value of plan assets			57,850,937				54,644,608
Net amount recognized in accrued benefit liability			(10,930,815	)			(20,181,361	)

* Information relating to one of the Company’s pension plans is excluded from the above table as this plan was over-funded by approximately $70,000 at December 28, 2013.

Estimated future benefit payments to participants of the Company’s pension plans are $2.8 million in 2014, $2.9 million in 2015, $3.0 million in 2016, $3.1 million in 2017, $3.2 million in 2018 and a total of $19.1 million from 2019 through 2023.

Estimated future benefit payments to participants of the Company’s postretirement plan are $164,000 in 2014, $172,000 in 2015, $184,000 in 2016, $193,000 in 2017, $202,000 in 2018 and a total of $1,186,000 from 2019 through 2023.

The Company expects to make cash contributions to its qualified pension plans of approximately $2.5 million and to its postretirement plan of approximately $63,000 in 2014.

We consider a number of factors in determining and selecting assumptions for the overall expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. We consider the historical long-term return experience of our assets, the current and expected allocation of our plan assets, and expected long-term rates of return. We derive these expected long-term rates of return with the assistance of our investment advisors and generally base these rates on a 10-year horizon for various asset classes and consider the expected positive impact of active investment management. We base our expected allocation of plan assets on a diversified portfolio consisting of domestic and international equity securities and fixed income securities.

We consider a variety of factors in determining and selecting our assumptions for the discount rate at the end of the year. We develop a single equivalent discount rate derived with the assistance of our actuaries by matching expected future benefit payments in each year to the corresponding spot rates from the Citigroup Pension Liability Yield Curve, comprised of high quality (rated AA or better) corporate bonds.

The fair values of the company’s pension plans assets at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, utilizing the fair value hierarchy discussed in Note 2, follow:

		28-Dec-13
		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
Cash and Equivalents:
Common/collective trust funds		$	—			$	204,874			$	—			$	204,874
Equities:
The Eastern Company Common Stock			3,082,494				—				—				3,082,494
Common/collective trust funds
U.S. Large Cap (a)			—				6,643,640				—				6,643,640
U.S. Small Cap (b)			—				4,485,040				—				4,485,040
Concentrated Equity (c)			—				5,578,600				—				5,578,600
International Large Cap with Active Currency (d)			—				7,788,246				—				7,788,246
Emerging Market (e)			—				3,231,355				—				3,231,355
Fixed Income:
Common/collective trust funds
Intermediate Bond (f)			—				15,817,474				—				15,817,474
Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Funds (g)
· 6 Year LDI Fund			—				211,661				—				211,661
· 8 Year LDI Fund			—				211,101				—				211,101
· 10 Year LDI Fund			—				316,556				—				316,556
· 12 Year LDI Fund			—				845,278				—				845,278
· 14 Year LDI Fund			—				1,108,960				—				1,108,960
· 16 Year LDI Fund			—				475,035				—				475,035
Long Duration Fixed Credit (h)			—				7,363,673				—				7,363,673
Insurance contracts			—				2,689,979				—				2,689,979
Total		$	3,082,494			$	56,971,472			$	—			$	60,053,966

		29-Dec-12
		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
Cash and Equivalents:
Common/collective trust funds		$	—			$	193,497			$	—			$	193,497
Equities:
The Eastern Company Common Stock			3,063,132				—				—				3,063,132
Common/collective trust funds
U.S. Large Cap			—				5,826,726				—				5,826,726
U.S. Small Cap			—				3,964,072				—				3,964,072
Concentrated Equity			—				4,899,023				—				4,899,023
International Large Cap with Active Currency			—				6,999,997				—				6,999,997
Emerging Market			—				3,017,350				—				3,017,350
Fixed Income:
Common/collective trust funds
Intermediate Bond			—				14,368,745				—				14,368,745
Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Funds											—
· 6 Year LDI Fund			—				215,604								215,604
· 8 Year LDI Fund			—				214,968								214,968
· 10 Year LDI Fund			—				306,535								306,535
· 12 Year LDI Fund			—				824,342								824,342
· 14 Year LDI Fund			—				1,087,074								1,087,074
· 16 Year LDI Fund			—				426,544								426,544
Long Duration Fixed Credit			—				6,684,999				—				6,684,999
Insurance contracts			—				2,552,000				—				2,552,000
Total		$	3,063,132			$	51,581,476			$	—			$	54,644,608

Equity common funds primarily hold publicly traded common stock of both U.S and international companies selected for purposes of total return and to maintain equity exposure consistent with policy allocations. The level 1 investment is made up of shares of The Eastern Company Common Stock and is valued at market price. Level 2 investments include commingled funds valued at unit values provided by the investment managers, which are based on the fair value of the underlying publicly traded securities.

(a)	The investment objective of the large cap fund is to outperform the Russell 1000® Index. The fund is designed to provide for long-term growth of capital by utilizing a diversified group of quantitative investment strategies that seek to identify securities that have exposure to factors that the underlying advisors’ research has found to be predictive of future excess returns. The advisors’ portfolios are quantitatively structured to gain exposure to these predictive characteristics while minimizing unintended risk exposures.
(b)	The small cap fund has an objective to outperform the Russell 2500® Index The fund is designed to achieve consistency by combining advisors whose complementary disciplined processes employ distinct methods for identifying small capitalization U.S. stocks with strong return potential. Advisors in the fund use a wide range of criteria and disciplines in their stock selection, focusing on factors such as: undervalued or under-researched companies, special situations, emerging growth, asset plays or turnarounds.

(c)	The investment objective of the concentrated equity fund is to outperform the Russell 1000® Index. The fund is designed to achieve this by combining strategies with different payoffs over different phases of an economic and stock market cycle. To help achieve this objective, multiple advisors and strategies are employed to reduce “scenario risk.” These multiple strategies are in the form of multiple investment styles (e.g., growth, market oriented, and value), multiple sub-styles, and different ways of identifying undervalued securities.

(d)	The international fund with active currency has an investment objective of outperforming the Russell Development ex-U.S. Large Cap Index Net. The fund is designed to provide the potential for long-term growth of capital by utilizing a diversified group of investment advisors that the Trustee’s manager’s research indicates will outperform over a full market cycle. The investment advisors’ portfolios are combined to form a fund that emphasizes their strengths while minimizing unintended risk exposures.

(e)	The emerging market fund seeks to outperform the Russell Emerging Markets Index Net. The fund is designed to provide the potential for long-term growth of capital by utilizing a diversified market group of investment advisors that the Trustee’s manager’s research indicates will outperform over a full market cycle. The investment advisors’ portfolios are combined to form a fund that emphasizes their strengths while minimizing unintended risk exposures.

All equity funds have an objective to beat their respective indices with above-average consistency while maintaining volatility and diversification similar to the index they are being compared to over a full market cycle.

Fixed income common funds primarily hold government and corporate debt securities selected for purposes of total return and managing fixed income exposure to policy allocations. Investments include fixed commingled funds valued at unit values provided by the investment managers, which are based on the fair value of the underlying publicly traded securities.

(f)	Fixed income common fund investments have an investment objective of outperforming the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index over a full market cycle. The fund is designed to provide current income, and as a secondary objective, capital appreciation through a variety of diversified strategies including sector rotation, modest interest rate timing, security selection and tactical use of high yield and emerging market bonds. The portfolio diversification provides protection against a single security or class of securities having a disproportionate impact on aggregate performance. To help achieve the objective, the fund is actively managed by multiple advisors who use a variety of investment strategies to create a broad market exposure. The fund’s advisors have distinct but complementary investment styles. These advisors generally have similar universes of investable securities but have different areas of specialization and expertise within intermediate duration securities.

(g)	The Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Funds seek to outperform their respective Barclays-Russell LDI Indexes over a full market cycle. These Funds seek to provide current income, and as a secondary objective, capital appreciation through diversified strategies including sector rotation, modest interest rate timing, security selection and tactical use of high yield and emerging market bonds. The Funds will generally be used in combination with other bond funds to enable the plans to gain additional credit exposure within their asset portfolio, with the goal of reducing the mismatch between a plan’s assets and liabilities.

(h)	The long duration fixed credit fund seeks to outperform the Barclays Capital Long Credit Index over a full market cycle. The fund seeks to provide current income, and as a secondary objective, capital appreciation through diversified strategies including sector rotation, modest interest rate timing, security selection and tactical use of high yield and emerging market bonds. The fund will generally be used in combination with other bond funds, with the goal of reducing the mismatch between a plan’s assets and liabilities.

The investment portfolio contains a diversified blend of common stocks, bonds, cash equivalents, and other investments, which may reflect varying rates of return. The investments are further diversified within each asset classification. The portfolio diversification provides protection against a single security or class of securities having a disproportionate impact on aggregate performance. The Company has elected to change its investment strategy to better match the assets with the underlying plan liabilities. Currently, the long-term target allocations for plan assets are 50% in equities and 50% in fixed income, with 20% of the fixed income investments being in long-duration instruments, although the actual plan asset allocations may be within a range around these targets. The actual asset allocations are reviewed and rebalanced on a periodic basis to maintain the target allocations. It is expected that, as the funded status of the plans improves, more assets will be invested in long-duration fixed income instruments.

The plans’ assets include 193,624 shares of the common stock of the Company having a market value of $3,082,494 and $3,063,132 at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively. No shares were purchased or sold in 2013 or 2012. Dividends received during 2013 and 2012 on the common stock of the Company were $81,322 and $96,812 respectively.

The fair values of the Company’s postretirement plan assets at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, utilizing the fair value hierarchy discussed in Note 2, follow:

		28-Dec-13
		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
Fixed Income:
Insurance contracts		$	—			$	—			$	1,187,603			$	1,187,603
Total		$	—			$	—			$	1,187,603			$	1,187,603

		29-Dec-12
		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
Fixed Income:
Insurance contracts		$	—			$	—			$	1,204,779			$	1,204,779
Total		$	—			$	—			$	1,204,779			$	1,204,779

The level 3 asset consists of an insurance contract with The Prudential Life Insurance Company of America. It is designed to provide life insurance benefits for eligible retirees of the Company. The contract is valued annually by the insurance company, based on activity in the account. An analysis of the Level 3 asset of the Company’s postretirement plan is as follows:

		2013				2012
Fair value of Level 3 assets at beginning of year		$	1,204,779			$	1,215,998
Change due to availability of final actual assets and census data			12,577				(3,005	)
Actual return on plan assets			73,920				46,255
Employer contributions			34,565				71,655
Benefits paid			(138,238	)			(126,124	)
Fair value of Level 3 assets at end of year		$	1,187,603			$	1,204,779

The Level 3 assets described above are the only assets of the postretirement plan, and thus have no impact on any Level 1 or Level 2 assets.

For measurement purposes relating to the postretirement benefit plan, the life insurance cost trend rate is 1%. The health care cost trend rate for participants retiring after January 1, 1991 is nil; no increase in that rate is expected because of caps placed on benefits. The health care cost trend rate is expected to remain at 4.5% for participants after the year 2000.

A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects on the postretirement benefit plan:

		1-Percentage Point
		Increase				Decrease
Effect on total of service and interest cost components		$	58,361			$	(47,201	)

Effect on postretirement benefit obligation		$	514,000			$	(423,068	)

U.S. salaried employees and most employees of the Company’s Canadian subsidiaries are covered by defined contribution plans.

The Company has a contributory savings plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code covering substantially all U.S. non-union employees. The plan allows participants to make voluntary contributions of up to 100% of their annual compensation on a pretax basis, subject to IRS limitations. The plan provides for contributions by the Company at its discretion. The Company made contributions of $194,068 in 2013, $187,531 in 2012, and in 2011, $179,400.

REPORTABLE_SEGMENTS

REPORTABLE SEGMENTS	12 Months Ended
REPORTABLE SEGMENTS	Dec. 28, 2013
REPORTABLE SEGMENTS [Abstract]	'
REPORTABLE SEGMENTS	'
	10. Reportable Segments

	The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 2. Operating profit is total revenue less operating expenses, excluding interest and miscellaneous non-operating income and expenses. Inter-segment revenue, which is eliminated, is recorded on the same basis as sales to unaffiliated customers. Identifiable assets by reportable segment consist of those directly identified with the segment’s operations.

	One customer of the Metal Products segment, Jennmar Corporation, accounted for 11.5% of total sales in 2013. No other customer exceeded 10% of total revenue in 2013, 2012 or 2011.

			2013				2012				2011
	Revenue:
	Sales to unaffiliated customers:
	Industrial Hardware		$	60,367,209			$	72,268,559			$	66,119,119
	Security Products			48,751,688				50,138,121				47,972,152
	Metal Products			33,339,382				35,102,505				28,764,778
			$	142,458,279			$	157,509,185			$	142,856,049

	Inter-segment Revenue:
	Industrial Hardware		$	373,797			$	270,911			$	330,150
	Security Products			2,558,127				2,914,667				2,751,060
	Metal Products			11,540				—				127,138
			$	2,943,464			$	3,185,578			$	3,208,348

				2013				2012				2011
	Income Before Income Taxes:
	Industrial Hardware		$	4,797,254			$	7,566,512			$	4,912,341
	Security Products			2,780,403				4,113,661				3,408,187
	Metal Products			2,808,664				1,871,250				391,652
	Operating Profit			10,386,321				13,551,423				8,712,180
	Interest expense			(322,731	)			(369,357	)			(231,481	)
	Other income			50,305				42,452				26,230
			$	10,113,895			$	13,224,518			$	8,506,929

	Geographic Information:
	Net Sales:
	United States		$	114,085,322			$	120,604,363			$	107,472,590
	Foreign			28,372,957				36,904,822				35,383,459
			$	142,458,279			$	157,509,185			$	142,856,049

	Foreign sales are primarily to customers in North America.

	Identifiable Assets:
	United States		$	96,289,200			$	95,441,029			$	86,844,921
	Foreign			17,569,209				20,413,121				19,855,053
			$	113,858,409			$	115,854,150			$	106,699,974

	Industrial Hardware		$	31,820,269			$	34,425,594			$	32,298,527
	Security Products			43,582,088				41,857,156				42,149,711
	Metal Products			19,282,393				18,281,619				16,814,255
				94,684,750				94,564,369				91,262,493
	General corporate			19,173,659				21,289,781				15,437,481
			$	113,858,409			$	115,854,150			$	106,699,974

	Depreciation and Amortization:
	Industrial Hardware		$	2,085,618			$	1,769,097			$	1,768,975
	Security Products			592,555				628,652				984,879
	Metal Products			1,147,113				1,042,051				953,362
			$	3,825,286			$	3,439,800			$	3,707,216

	Capital Expenditures:
	Industrial Hardware		$	1,967,335			$	1,552,147			$	1,568,779
	Security Products			469,669				260,692				331,619
	Metal Products			3,002,556				2,337,104				1,477,222
				5,439,560				4,149,943				3,377,620
	Currency translation adjustment			(245	)			(2,730	)			7,132
	General corporate			84,427				69,757				9,974
		$	5,523,742			$	4,216,970			$	3,394,726

RECENT_ACCOUNTING_PRONOUNCEMEN

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS	12 Months Ended
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS	Dec. 28, 2013
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS [Abstract]	'
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS	'
	11. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

	In May 2011, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which clarifies the concepts related to highest and best use and valuation premise, blockage factors and other premiums and discounts, the fair value measurement of financial instruments held in a portfolio and of those instruments classified as a component of shareowners’ equity. The guidance includes enhanced disclosure requirements about recurring Level 3 fair value measurements, the use of non-financial assets, and the level in the fair value hierarchy of assets and liabilities not recorded at fair value. This guidance became effective for the Company on January 1, 2012. This guidance did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements or disclosures, as there are presently no recurring Level 3 fair value measurements.

	In June 2011, the FASB issued authoritative guidance aimed at increasing the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income in the financial statements. In December 2011, the FASB also issued an accounting standards update that indefinitely deferred certain financial statement presentation provisions contained in its original June 2011 guidance. The guidance requires companies to present comprehensive income in a single statement below net income or in a separate statement of comprehensive income immediately following the income statement. Companies will no longer be allowed to present comprehensive income on the statement of changes in shareholders' equity. In both options, companies must present the components of net income, total net income, the components of other comprehensive income, total other comprehensive income and total comprehensive income. This update does not change which items are reported in other comprehensive income or the requirement to report reclassifications of items from other comprehensive income to net income. This guidance became effective for the Company on January 1, 2012 and required retrospective application for all periods presented. The adoption of this guidance did not impact the presentation of the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

	In September 2011, the FASB issued authoritative guidance on testing goodwill for impairment. This guidance provides an entity the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If an entity determines that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, it is required to perform the currently prescribed two-step goodwill impairment test to identify potential goodwill impairment and measure the amount of goodwill impairment loss to be recognized for that reporting unit, if any. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2012 and it had no impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

	In July 2012, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to amend previous guidance on the annual and interim testing of indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment. The guidance provides entities with the option of first assessing qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. If it is determined, on the basis of qualitative factors, that the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset is more likely than not less than the carrying amount, a quantitative impairment test would still be required. The Company adopted this guidance effective December 30, 2012 and it had no impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

	In February 2013, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which adds new disclosure requirements for items reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The guidance requires that an entity present either in a single note or parenthetically on the face of the financial statements, the effect of significant amounts reclassified from each component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income based on its source and the income statement line items affected by the reclassification. The guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2012. The Company adopted this guidance effective December 30, 2012 and it had no impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

	In July 2013, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that requires an entity to net its liability for unrecognized tax positions against a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward when settlement in this manner is available under the tax law. The guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2013. The Company adopted this guidance effective December 29, 2013 and it had no impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

	The Company has implemented all new accounting pronouncements that are in effect and that could impact its consolidated financial statements and does not believe that there are any other new accounting pronouncements that have been issued, but are not yet effective, that might have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

FINANCIAL_INSTRUMENTS_AND_FAIR

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	12 Months Ended
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	Dec. 28, 2013
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS [Abstract]	'
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	'
	12. Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

	Financial Risk Management Objectives and Policies

	The Company is exposed primarily to credit, interest rate and currency exchange rate risks which arise in the normal course of business.

	Credit Risk

	Credit risk is the potential financial loss resulting from the failure of a customer or counterparty to settle its financial and contractual obligations to the Company, as and when they become due. The primary credit risk for the Company is its receivable accounts. The Company has established credit limits for customers and monitors their balances to mitigate its risk of loss. At December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, there were no significant concentrations of credit risk. No customer represented more than 10% of total accounts receivable at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012. The maximum exposure to credit risk is primarily represented by the carrying amount of the Company’s accounts receivable.

	Interest Rate Risk

	As of December 28, 2013 the Company currently has a fixed rate of 4.98% and 3.90% on its term debt. On December 28, 2013 the interest rate on the Company’s revolver was a variable rate based on LIBOR plus 2.25% with a floor of 3.5%. As of January 23, 2014 the floor has been eliminated and the interest rate is LIBOR plus 2.25%. See Note 4, Debt for additional details concerning the Loan Agreement. As the revolver is short term in nature, the Company does not consider this as a material risk to the financial statements.

	Currency Exchange Rate Risk

	The Company’s currency exposure is concentrated in the Canadian dollar, Mexican peso, New Taiwan dollar, Chinese RMB and the Hong Kong dollar. Because of the Company’s limited exposure to any single foreign market, any exchange gains or losses have not been material and are not expected to be material in the future. As a result, the Company does not attempt to mitigate its foreign currency exposure through the acquisition of any speculative or leveraged financial instruments.

	Fair Value Measurements

	Assets and liabilities that require fair value measurement are recorded at fair value using market and income valuation approaches and considering the Company’s and counterparty’s credit risk. The Company uses the market approach and the income approach to value assets and liabilities as appropriate. There were no assets or liabilities requiring fair value measurement on December 28, 2013.

SELECTED_QUARTERLY_FINANCIAL_I

SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)	12 Months Ended
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)	Dec. 28, 2013
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) [Abstract]	'
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)	'
	13. Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)

	Selected quarterly financial information (unaudited) follows:

		2013
		First		Second		Third		Fourth		Year
	Net sales	$	34,692,174	$	39,247,980	$	34,256,086	$	34,262,039	$	142,458,279
	Gross margin		6,266,580		8,530,842		7,224,409		8,125,689		30,147,520
	Selling and administrative expenses		4,681,296		5,223,185		4,767,505		5,089,213		19,761,199
	Net income		1,005,248		2,174,294		1,798,783		1,923,596		6,901,921

	Net income per share:
	Basic	$	0.16	$	0.35	$	0.29	$	0.31	$	1.11
	Diluted	$	0.16	$	0.35	$	0.29	$	0.31	$	1.11

	Weighted average shares outstanding:
	Basic		6,219,775		6,220,569		6,221,515		6,221,851		6,220,928
	Diluted		6,236,842		6,238,025		6,238,074		6,238,089		6,237,758

		2012
		First		Second		Third		Fourth		Year
	Net sales	$	40,495,894	$	41,559,589	$	39,644,050	$	35,809,652	$	157,509,185
	Gross margin		8,184,466		9,245,390		8,165,493		7,757,129		33,352,478
	Selling and administrative expenses		5,015,052		5,101,156		4,830,971		4,853,876		19,801,055
	Net (loss)/income		2,045,608		2,632,346		2,223,975		1,723,871		8,625,800

	Net (loss)/income per share:
	Basic	$	0.33	$	0.42	$	0.36	$	0.28	$	1.39
	Diluted	$	0.33	$	0.42	$	0.36	$	0.28	$	1.38

	Weighted average shares outstanding:
	Basic		6,213,913		6,217,198		6,219,241		6,219,384		6,216,931
	Diluted		6,231,739		6,231,335		6,234,727		6,237,709		6,233,375

	Fiscal 2013 and 2012 consisted of four 13 week quarters totaling 52 weeks for each year.

Schedule_II_Valuation_and_Qual

Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying accounts

12 Months Ended

Dec. 28, 2013

Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying accounts [Abstract]

Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying accounts

The Eastern Company and Subsidiaries

Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying accounts

COL. A

COL. B

COL. C

COL. D

COL. E

ADDITIONS

Description

Balance at Beginning of Period

(1) Charged to Costs and Expenses

(2) Charged to Other Accounts-Describe

Deductions – Describe

Balance at End of Period

Fiscal year ended December 28, 2013:

Deducted from asset accounts:

Allowance for doubtful accounts

487,000

106,485

183,485

(a)

410,000

Fiscal year ended December 29, 2012:

Deducted from asset accounts:

Allowance for doubtful accounts

423,000

147,313

83,313

(a)

487,000

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2011:

Deducted from asset accounts:

Allowance for doubtful accounts

519,000

44,502

140,502

(a)

423,000

(a) Uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries.

ACCOUNTING_POLICIES_Policies

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 28, 2013

ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]

Estimates and Assumptions

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Fiscal Year

The Company’s year ends on the Saturday nearest to December 31.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated.

Cash Equivalents and Concentrations of Credit Risk

Highly liquid investments purchased with a maturity of three months or less are considered cash equivalents. The Company has deposits that exceed amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to $250,000, but the Company does not consider this a significant concentration of credit risk based on the strength of the financial institution.

Foreign Currency Translation

For foreign operations balance sheet accounts are translated at the current year-end exchange rate; income statement accounts are translated at the average exchange rate for the year. Resulting translation adjustments are made directly to a separate component of shareholders’ equity – “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) – Foreign currency translation”. Foreign currency exchange transaction gains and losses are not material in any year.

Recognition of Revenue and Accounts Receivable

Revenue and accounts receivable are recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the price is fixed and determinable, delivery has occurred, and there is a reasonable assurance of collection of the sales proceeds. The Company obtains written purchase authorizations from its customers for a specified amount of product at a specified price and delivery occurs at the time of shipment. Credit is extended based on an evaluation of each customer’s financial condition; collateral is not required. Accounts receivable are recorded net of applicable allowances. No customer exceeded 10% of total accounts receivable at year end 2013 or 2012.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The Company reviews the collectibility of its receivables on an ongoing basis taking into account a combination of factors. The Company reviews potential problems, such as past due accounts, a bankruptcy filing or deterioration in the customer’s financial condition, to ensure the Company is adequately accrued for potential loss. Accounts are considered past due based on when payment was originally due. If a customer’s situation changes, such as a bankruptcy or creditworthiness, or there is a change in the current economic climate, the Company may modify its estimate of the allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company will write off accounts receivable after reasonable collection efforts have been made and the accounts are deemed uncollectible. Write-offs have been within management’s estimates.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method in the U.S. ($23,922,496 for U.S. inventories at December 28, 2013) and by the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method for inventories outside the U.S. ($6,735,116 for inventories outside the U.S. at December 28, 2013). Current cost exceeds the LIFO carrying value by approximately $6,689,000 at December 28, 2013 and $6,302,000 at December 29, 2012. There was no material LIFO quantity liquidation in 2013, 2012 or 2011.

Property, Plant and Equipment and Related Depreciation

Property, plant and equipment (including equipment under capital lease) are stated at cost. Depreciation ($3,592,263 in 2013, $3,210,324 in 2012 and $3,155,717 in 2011) is computed generally using the straight-line method based on the following estimated useful lives of the assets: Buildings 10 to 39.5 years; Machinery and equipment 3 to 10 years.

Goodwill, Intangibles and Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Patents are recorded at cost and are amortized using the straight-line method over the lives of the patents. Technology and licenses are recorded at cost and are generally amortized on a straight-line basis over periods ranging from 5 to 17 years. Non-compete agreements and customer relationships are being amortized using the straight-line method over a period of 5 years. Amortization expense in 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $233,023, $229,476 and $551,499, respectively. Total amortization expense for each of the next five years is estimated to be as follows: 2014 - $231,000; 2015 - $231,000; 2016 - $231,000; 2017 - $231,000; and 2018 - $231,000. Trademarks are not amortized as their lives are deemed to be indefinite.

The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of amortizable intangible assets:

Industrial

Security

Metal

Total

Weighted-Average

Hardware

Products

Amortization Period (Years)

Segment

2013 Patents and developed technology

Gross Amount:

2,595,931

1,041,250

3,637,181

Accumulated amortization:

1,676,440

503,238

2,179,678

Net 2013 per Balance Sheet

919,491

538,012

1,457,503

2012 Patents and developed technology

Gross Amount:

2,732,307

1,021,409

5,839

3,759,555

15.8

Accumulated amortization:

1,652,199

447,732

5,667

2,105,598

Net 2012 per Balance Sheet

1,080,108

573,677

172

1,653,957

In the event that facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of long-lived assets, including definite life intangible assets, may be impaired, an evaluation is performed to determine if a write-down is required. No events or changes in circumstances have occurred to indicate that the carrying amount of such long-lived assets held and used may not be recovered.

During the third quarter of 2012 the Company elected to change its annual impairment testing of goodwill and trademarks from the second quarter of its fiscal year to the fourth quarter of its fiscal year. The Company discussed this change in accounting principle with its Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and attached their Preference Letter as an exhibit to the Form 10-Q for the quarter ending September 29, 2012. The Company completed a qualitative assessment in the second quarter of 2012 and determined it is more likely than not that no impairment of goodwill existed at that time. The Company performed additional qualitative assessments as of the end of fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2013 and determined it is more likely than not that no impairment of goodwill existed at the end of 2013 or 2012. The Company will perform annual qualitative assessments in subsequent years as of the end of each fiscal year. Additionally, the Company will perform interim analysis whenever conditions warrant.

Goodwill or trademarks would be considered impaired whenever our historical carrying amount exceeds the fair value. Goodwill and trademarks were not impaired in 2013, 2012 or 2011. Should we reach a different conclusion in the future, additional work would be performed to determine the amount of the non-cash impairment charge to be recognized. The maximum future impairment of goodwill or trademarks that could occur is the amount recognized on our balance sheet.

The following is a roll-forward of goodwill for 2013 and 2012:

Industrial

Security

Metal

Total

Hardware

Products

Segment

2013

Beginning balance

2,099,783

11,833,816

—

13,933,599

Foreign exchange

(91,552

)

—

(91,552

)

Ending balance

2,008,231

11,833,816

—

13,842,047

Industrial

Security

Metal

Total

Hardware

Products

Segment

2012

Beginning balance

2,071,393

11,833,816

—

13,905,209

Foreign exchange

28,390

—

28,390

Ending balance

2,099,783

11,833,816

—

13,933,599

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold reflects the cost of purchasing, manufacturing and preparing a product for sale. These costs generally represent the expenses to acquire or manufacture products for sale (including an allocation of depreciation and amortization) and are primarily comprised of direct materials, direct labor as well as overhead which includes indirect labor, facility and equipment costs, inbound freight, receiving, inspection, purchasing, warehousing and any other costs related to the purchasing, manufacturing or preparation of a product for sale.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of goods sold.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses include all operating costs of the Company that are not directly related to the cost of purchasing, manufacturing and preparing a product for sale. These expenses generally represent the cost of selling or distributing the product once it is available for sale as well as administrative expenses for support functions and related overhead.

Product Development Costs

Product development costs, charged to expense as incurred, were $991,286 in 2013, $814,096 in 2012 and $825,778 in 2011.

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs were $486,027 in 2013, $442,300 in 2012 and $386,908 in 2011.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions pursuant to the provisions of FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740 which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in a company’s financial statements. These provisions detail how companies should recognize, measure, present and disclose uncertain tax positions that have or are expected to be taken. As such, the financial statements will reflect expected future tax consequences of uncertain tax positions presuming the taxing authorities’ full knowledge of the position and all relevant facts. See Note 7 Income Taxes.

The Company and its U.S. subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse.

Earnings per Share

The denominators used in the earnings per share computations follow:

2013

2012

2011

Basic:

Weighted average shares outstanding

6,220,928

6,216,931

6,178,664

Diluted:

Weighted average shares outstanding

6,220,928

6,216,931

6,178,664

Dilutive stock options

16,830

16,444

37,529

Denominator for diluted earnings per share

6,237,758

6,233,375

6,216,193

There were no anti-dilutive stock options in 2013, 2012 or 2011.

Derivatives

The Company does not maintain any derivatives as of the date of this report.

Stock Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock based compensation pursuant to the fair value recognition provisions of ASC 718. No stock options were granted in 2013, 2012 or 2011, and, since all outstanding options were fully vested in each year presented, there was no impact on the financial statements.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The company utilizes a fair value hierarchy, which maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The fair value hierarchy has three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1

Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

Level 2

Quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3

Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

The carrying amounts of financial instruments (cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and debt) as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, approximate fair value. Fair value was based on expected cash flows and current market conditions.

ACCOUNTING_POLICIES_Tables

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)	Dec. 28, 2013
ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]	'
Gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of amortizable intangible assets	'
	The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of amortizable intangible assets:

		Industrial			Security		Metal		Total			Weighted-Average
		Hardware			Products		Products					Amortization Period (Years)
		Segment			Segment		Segment
	2013 Patents and developed technology
	Gross Amount:	$	2,595,931		$	1,041,250	$	--	$	3,637,181			16
	Accumulated amortization:		1,676,440			503,238		--		2,179,678
	Net 2013 per Balance Sheet	$	919,491		$	538,012	$	--	$	1,457,503

	2012 Patents and developed technology
	Gross Amount:	$	2,732,307		$	1,021,409	$	5,839	$	3,759,555			15.8
	Accumulated amortization:		1,652,199			447,732		5,667		2,105,598
	Net 2012 per Balance Sheet	$	1,080,108		$	573,677	$	172	$	1,653,957
Roll-forward of goodwill	'
	The following is a roll-forward of goodwill for 2013 and 2012:

		Industrial			Security		Metal		Total
		Hardware			Products		Products
		Segment			Segment		Segment
	2013
	Beginning balance	$	2,099,783		$	11,833,816	$	—	$	13,933,599
	Foreign exchange		(91,552	)		—		—		(91,552	)
	Ending balance	$	2,008,231		$	11,833,816	$	—	$	13,842,047

		Industrial			Security		Metal		Total
		Hardware			Products		Products
		Segment			Segment		Segment
	2012
	Beginning balance	$	2,071,393		$	11,833,816	$	—	$	13,905,209
	Foreign exchange		28,390			—		—		28,390
	Ending balance	$	2,099,783		$	11,833,816	$	—	$	13,933,599
Denominators used in the earnings per share computations	'
	The denominators used in the earnings per share computations follow:

		2013			2012		2011
	Basic:
	Weighted average shares outstanding		6,220,928			6,216,931		6,178,664

	Diluted:
	Weighted average shares outstanding		6,220,928			6,216,931		6,178,664
	Dilutive stock options		16,830			16,444		37,529
	Denominator for diluted earnings per share		6,237,758			6,233,375		6,216,193

DEBT_Tables

DEBT (Tables)	12 Months Ended
DEBT (Tables)	Dec. 28, 2013
DEBT [Abstract]	'
Schedule of debt	'
	Debt consists of:

		2013		2012
	Term loans	$	6,071,428	$	7,499,999
	Revolving credit loan		—		—
			6,071,428		7,499,999
	Less current portion		1,785,714		1,428,571
		$	4,285,714	$	6,071,428
Scheduled annual principal maturities of long-term debt	'
	The quarterly payment dates as listed in the Loan Agreement are the first business day of the calendar quarter. As a result, there will be five scheduled payments in Fiscal 2014 and three in Fiscal 2015. As of December 28, 2013, scheduled annual principal maturities of long-term debt for each of the next five years follow:

	2014	$	1,785,714
	2015		1,071,429
	2016		1,428,571
	2017		892,857
	2018		714,286
	Thereafter		178,571
		$	6,071,428

STOCK_OPTIONS_AND_AWARDS_Table

STOCK OPTIONS AND AWARDS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
STOCK OPTIONS AND AWARDS (Tables)	Dec. 28, 2013
STOCK OPTIONS AND AWARDS [Abstract]	'
Stock Option Activity	'
	Information with respect to the Company’s stock option plans is summarized below:

			Shares				Weighted Average
			Shares				Exercise Price
	Outstanding at January 1, 2011			80,000			$	12.471
	Exercised			(54,500	)			11.952
	Outstanding at December 31, 2011			25,500				13.58
	Exercised			(4,500	)			13.58
	Outstanding at December 29, 2012			21,000				13.58
	Exercised			(1,000	)			13.58
	Outstanding at December 28, 2013			20,000				13.58
Options Outstanding and Exercisable	'
	Options Outstanding and Exercisable
	Range of Exercise Prices				Outstanding and Exercisable as of December 28, 2013				Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life		Weighted Average Exercise Price
	$	13.58				20,000				1		$	13.58

INCOME_TAXES_Tables

INCOME TAXES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
INCOME TAXES (Tables)	Dec. 28, 2013
INCOME TAXES [Abstract]	'
Deferred income tax (assets) liabilities	'
	Deferred income taxes are provided on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and those for income tax reporting purposes. Deferred income tax (assets) liabilities relate to:

		2013			2012			2011
	Property, plant and equipment	$	6,184,873		$	5,942,048		$	5,480,102
	Other		208,938			—			—
	Total deferred income tax liabilities		6,393,811			5,942,048			5,480,102

	Other postretirement benefits		(787,087	)		(885,729	)		(653,238	)
	Inventories		(848,364	)		(761,613	)		(1,005,134	)
	Allowance for doubtful accounts		(104,695	)		(104,903	)		(94,120	)
	Intangible assets		(373,482	)		(422,443	)		(472,243	)
	Accrued compensation		(158,866	)		(197,582	)		(224,155	)
	Pensions		(3,828,224	)		(7,128,057	)		(5,573,596	)
	Other		—			(116,826	)		(160,876	)
	Total deferred income tax assets		(6,100,718	)		(9,617,153	)		(8,183,362	)
	Net deferred income tax (assets) liabilities	$	293,093		$	(3,675,105	)	$	(2,703,260	)
Income before income taxes	'
	Income before income taxes consists of:

		2013			2012			2011
	Domestic	$	7,139,039		$	8,614,664		$	5,180,467
	Foreign		2,974,856			4,609,854			3,326,462
		$	10,113,895		$	13,224,518		$	8,506,929
Provision for income taxes	'
	The provision for income taxes follows:

		2013			2012			2011
	Current:
	Federal	$	1,942,271		$	1,909,172		$	214,988
	Foreign		871,949			1,367,025			830,028
	State		162,952			220,820			109,711
	Deferred:
	Federal		241,821			1,022,660			1,747,620
	Foreign		—			—			—
	State		(7,019	)		79,041			99,652
		$	3,211,974		$	4,598,718		$	3,001,999
Reconciliation of income taxes computed using the U.S. federal statutory rate to that reflected in operations	'
	A reconciliation of income taxes computed using the U.S. federal statutory rate to that reflected in operations follows:

		2013						2012						2011
		Amount			Percent			Amount			Percent			Amount			Percent
	Income taxes using U.S. federal statutory rate	$	3,438,724			34	%	$	4,496,336			34	%	$	2,892,356			34	%
	State income taxes, net of federal benefit		99,245			1			188,490			2			133,201			2
	Impact of foreign subsidiaries on effective tax rate		(103,878	)		(1	)		136,590			1			21,329			-
	Impact of manufacturers deduction on effective tax rate		(138,127	)		(1	)		(232,928	)		(2	)		(50,537	)		(1	)
	Other—net		(83,990	)		(1	)		10,230			-			5,650			-
		$	3,211,974			32	%	$	4,598,718			35	%	$	3,001,999			35
Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits	'
	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits are as follows:

		2013			2012			2011

	Balance at beginning of year	$	499,624		$	486,332		$	495,843
	Increases for positions taken during the current period		49,636			119,893			25,398
	Decreases relating to settlements		(263,856	)		—			—
	Decreases resulting from the expiration of the statute of limitations		(65,115	)		(106,601	)		(34,909	)
	Balance at end of year	$	220,289		$	499,624		$	486,332

LEASES_Tables

LEASES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
LEASES (Tables)	Dec. 28, 2013
LEASES [Abstract]	'
Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases	'
	Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year during each of the next five years follow:

	2014	$	1,071,929
	2015		1,098,323
	2016		521,097
	2017		313,845
	2018		134,228
		$	3,139,422

RETIREMENT_BENEFIT_PLANS_Table

RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS (Tables)	Dec. 28, 2013
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]	'
Funded status of pension benefit plans and postretirement benefit plan	'
	As of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, the status of the Company’s pension benefit plans and postretirement benefit plan was as follows:

			Pension Benefit						Postretirement Benefit
			2013			2012			2013			2012
	Benefit obligation at beginning of year		$	74,825,969		$	64,709,379		$	3,712,505		$	3,069,155
	Change due to availability of final actual assets and census data			—			—			—			151,397
	Plan amendment			132,378			831,201			—			—
	Service cost			3,028,863			2,642,373			202,568			173,613
	Interest cost			2,840,622			2,868,528			142,086			143,388
	Actuarial (gain)/loss			(7,187,997	)		6,117,680			(498,446	)		301,076
	Benefits paid			(2,428,637	)		(2,343,192	)		(138,238	)		(126,124	)
	Benefit obligation at end of year		$	71,211,198		$	74,825,969		$	3,420,475		$	3,712,505

			Pension Benefit						Postretirement Benefit
			2013			2012			2013			2012
	Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year		$	54,644,608		$	48,897,760		$	1,204,779		$	1,215,998
	Change due to availability of final actual assets and census data			—			—			12,577			(3,005	)
	Actual return on plan assets			4,880,381			4,311,348			73,920			46,255
	Employer contributions			3,254,635			3,778,692			34,565			71,655
	Benefits paid			(2,428,637	)		(2,343,192	)		(138,238	)		(126,124	)
	Fair value of plan assets at end of year		$	60,350,987		$	54,644,608		$	1,187,603		$	1,204,779

			Pension Benefit						Postretirement Benefit
	Funded Status		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Net amount recognized in the balance sheet		$	(10,860,211	)	$	(20,181,361	)	$	(2,232,872	)	$	(2,507,726	)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income	'
	Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:

			Pension Benefit						Postretirement Benefit
			2013			2012			2013			2012
	Net loss		$	(19,261,651	)	$	(28,346,776	)	$	(115,052	)	$	(621,467	)
	Prior service (cost) credit			(813,855	)		(937,936	)		111,508			135,396
			$	(20,075,506	)	$	(29,284,712	)	$	(3,544	)	$	(486,071	)
Change in the components of accumulated other comprehensive income	'
	Change in the components of accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:

			Pension Benefit						Postretirement Benefit
			2013			2012			2013			2012
	Balance at beginning of period		$	(29,284,712	)	$	(24,049,140	)	$	(486,071	)	$	44,080
	Change due to availability of final actual assets and census data			—			—			12,577			(154,402	)
	Charged to net periodic benefit cost
	Prior service cost			256,459			221,049			(23,888	)		(23,889	)
	Net loss (gain)			1,844,139			1,111,900			(4,608	)		(50,784	)
	Other changes
	Liability (gains)/losses			7,108,608			(6,568,521	)		498,446			(301,076	)
	Balance at end of period		$	(20,075,506	)	$	(29,284,712	)	$	(3,544	)	$	(486,071	)
Schedule of assumptions used to determine projected benefit obligations for benefit plans	'
	Assumptions used to determine the projected benefit obligations for the Company’s pension benefit plans and postretirement benefit plan for the fiscal year indicated were as follows:

			2013			2012
	Discount rate			4.8	%		3.9	%
	Expected return on plan assets			8	%		8	%
	Rate of compensation increase			3.25	%		3.25	%
Projected benefit obligation and accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets	'
	Information for the under-funded pension plans with a projected benefit obligation and an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets:

			2013			2012
	Number of plans		5*				6
	Projected benefit obligation		$	68,781,752		$	74,825,969
	Accumulated benefit obligation			68,974,332			66,735,124
	Fair value of plan assets			57,850,937			54,644,608
	Net amount recognized in accrued benefit liability			(10,930,815	)		(20,181,361	)

	* Information relating to one of the Company’s pension plans is excluded from the above table as this plan was over-funded by approximately $70,000 at December 28, 2013.
Pension Benefits [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]	'
Components of the net periodic benefit cost	'
	Components of the net periodic benefit cost of the Company’s pension benefit plans were as follows:

			2013			2012			2011
	Service cost		$	3,028,863		$	2,642,373		$	2,141,306
	Interest cost			2,840,622			2,868,528			2,949,672
	Expected return on plan assets			(4,827,393	)		(3,930,988	)		(3,650,282	)
	Amortization of prior service cost			256,459			221,049			194,148
	Amortization of the net loss			1,844,139			1,111,900			897,052
	Net periodic benefit cost		$	3,142,690		$	2,912,862		$	2,531,896
Schedule of assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for benefit plans	'
	Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s pension benefit plans for the fiscal year indicated were as follows:

			2013			2012			2011
	Discount rate			3.9	%		4.55	%		5.35	%
	Expected return on plan assets			8	%		8	%		8.5	%
	Rate of compensation increase			3.25	%		3.25	%		4.25	%
Fair values of plans assets utilizing fair value hierarchy	'
	The fair values of the company’s pension plans assets at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, utilizing the fair value hierarchy discussed in Note 2, follow:

			28-Dec-13
			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Cash and Equivalents:
	Common/collective trust funds		$	—		$	204,874		$	—		$	204,874
	Equities:
	The Eastern Company Common Stock			3,082,494			—			—			3,082,494
	Common/collective trust funds
	U.S. Large Cap (a)			—			6,643,640			—			6,643,640
	U.S. Small Cap (b)			—			4,485,040			—			4,485,040
	Concentrated Equity (c)			—			5,578,600			—			5,578,600
	International Large Cap with Active Currency (d)			—			7,788,246			—			7,788,246
	Emerging Market (e)			—			3,231,355			—			3,231,355
	Fixed Income:
	Common/collective trust funds
	Intermediate Bond (f)			—			15,817,474			—			15,817,474
	Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Funds (g)
	· 6 Year LDI Fund			—			211,661			—			211,661
	· 8 Year LDI Fund			—			211,101			—			211,101
	· 10 Year LDI Fund			—			316,556			—			316,556
	· 12 Year LDI Fund			—			845,278			—			845,278
	· 14 Year LDI Fund			—			1,108,960			—			1,108,960
	· 16 Year LDI Fund			—			475,035			—			475,035
	Long Duration Fixed Credit (h)			—			7,363,673			—			7,363,673
	Insurance contracts			—			2,689,979			—			2,689,979
	Total		$	3,082,494		$	56,971,472		$	—		$	60,053,966

			29-Dec-12
			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Cash and Equivalents:
	Common/collective trust funds		$	—		$	193,497		$	—		$	193,497
	Equities:
	The Eastern Company Common Stock			3,063,132			—			—			3,063,132
	Common/collective trust funds
	U.S. Large Cap			—			5,826,726			—			5,826,726
	U.S. Small Cap			—			3,964,072			—			3,964,072
	Concentrated Equity			—			4,899,023			—			4,899,023
	International Large Cap with Active Currency			—			6,999,997			—			6,999,997
	Emerging Market			—			3,017,350			—			3,017,350
	Fixed Income:
	Common/collective trust funds
	Intermediate Bond			—			14,368,745			—			14,368,745
	Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Funds									—
	· 6 Year LDI Fund			—			215,604						215,604
	· 8 Year LDI Fund			—			214,968						214,968
	· 10 Year LDI Fund			—			306,535						306,535
	· 12 Year LDI Fund			—			824,342						824,342
	· 14 Year LDI Fund			—			1,087,074						1,087,074
	· 16 Year LDI Fund			—			426,544						426,544
	Long Duration Fixed Credit			—			6,684,999			—			6,684,999
	Insurance contracts			—			2,552,000			—			2,552,000
	Total		$	3,063,132		$	51,581,476		$	—		$	54,644,608

	Equity common funds primarily hold publicly traded common stock of both U.S and international companies selected for purposes of total return and to maintain equity exposure consistent with policy allocations. The level 1 investment is made up of shares of The Eastern Company Common Stock and is valued at market price. Level 2 investments include commingled funds valued at unit values provided by the investment managers, which are based on the fair value of the underlying publicly traded securities.

	(a)	The investment objective of the large cap fund is to outperform the Russell 1000® Index. The fund is designed to provide for long-term growth of capital by utilizing a diversified group of quantitative investment strategies that seek to identify securities that have exposure to factors that the underlying advisors’ research has found to be predictive of future excess returns. The advisors’ portfolios are quantitatively structured to gain exposure to these predictive characteristics while minimizing unintended risk exposures.
	(b)	The small cap fund has an objective to outperform the Russell 2500® Index The fund is designed to achieve consistency by combining advisors whose complementary disciplined processes employ distinct methods for identifying small capitalization U.S. stocks with strong return potential. Advisors in the fund use a wide range of criteria and disciplines in their stock selection, focusing on factors such as: undervalued or under-researched companies, special situations, emerging growth, asset plays or turnarounds.

	(c)	The investment objective of the concentrated equity fund is to outperform the Russell 1000® Index. The fund is designed to achieve this by combining strategies with different payoffs over different phases of an economic and stock market cycle. To help achieve this objective, multiple advisors and strategies are employed to reduce “scenario risk.” These multiple strategies are in the form of multiple investment styles (e.g., growth, market oriented, and value), multiple sub-styles, and different ways of identifying undervalued securities.

	(d)	The international fund with active currency has an investment objective of outperforming the Russell Development ex-U.S. Large Cap Index Net. The fund is designed to provide the potential for long-term growth of capital by utilizing a diversified group of investment advisors that the Trustee’s manager’s research indicates will outperform over a full market cycle. The investment advisors’ portfolios are combined to form a fund that emphasizes their strengths while minimizing unintended risk exposures.

(e)	The emerging market fund seeks to outperform the Russell Emerging Markets Index Net. The fund is designed to provide the potential for long-term growth of capital by utilizing a diversified market group of investment advisors that the Trustee’s manager’s research indicates will outperform over a full market cycle. The investment advisors’ portfolios are combined to form a fund that emphasizes their strengths while minimizing unintended risk exposures.

All equity funds have an objective to beat their respective indices with above-average consistency while maintaining volatility and diversification similar to the index they are being compared to over a full market cycle.

Fixed income common funds primarily hold government and corporate debt securities selected for purposes of total return and managing fixed income exposure to policy allocations. Investments include fixed commingled funds valued at unit values provided by the investment managers, which are based on the fair value of the underlying publicly traded securities.

(f)	Fixed income common fund investments have an investment objective of outperforming the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index over a full market cycle. The fund is designed to provide current income, and as a secondary objective, capital appreciation through a variety of diversified strategies including sector rotation, modest interest rate timing, security selection and tactical use of high yield and emerging market bonds. The portfolio diversification provides protection against a single security or class of securities having a disproportionate impact on aggregate performance. To help achieve the objective, the fund is actively managed by multiple advisors who use a variety of investment strategies to create a broad market exposure. The fund’s advisors have distinct but complementary investment styles. These advisors generally have similar universes of investable securities but have different areas of specialization and expertise within intermediate duration securities.

(g)	The Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Funds seek to outperform their respective Barclays-Russell LDI Indexes over a full market cycle. These Funds seek to provide current income, and as a secondary objective, capital appreciation through diversified strategies including sector rotation, modest interest rate timing, security selection and tactical use of high yield and emerging market bonds. The Funds will generally be used in combination with other bond funds to enable the plans to gain additional credit exposure within their asset portfolio, with the goal of reducing the mismatch between a plan’s assets and liabilities.

(h)	The long duration fixed credit fund seeks to outperform the Barclays Capital Long Credit Index over a full market cycle. The fund seeks to provide current income, and as a secondary objective, capital appreciation through diversified strategies including sector rotation, modest interest rate timing, security selection and tactical use of high yield and emerging market bonds. The fund will generally be used in combination with other bond funds, with the goal of reducing the mismatch between a plan’s assets and liabilities.
Postretirement Benefits [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items]	'
Components of the net periodic benefit cost	'
	Components of the net periodic benefit cost of the Company’s postretirement benefit plan were as follows:

			2013			2012			2011
	Service cost		$	202,568		$	173,613		$	126,464
	Interest cost			142,086			143,388			136,752
	Expected return on plan assets			(73,920	)		(46,255	)		(52,920	)
	Amortization of prior service cost			(23,888	)		(23,889	)		(23,888	)
	Amortization of the net loss			(4,608	)		(50,784	)		(46,380	)
	Net periodic benefit cost		$	242,238		$	196,073		$	140,028
Schedule of assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for benefit plans	'
	Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s postretirement plan for the fiscal year indicated were as follows:

			2013			2012			2011
	Discount rate			3.9	%		4.55	%		5.35	%
	Expected return on plan assets			8	%		8	%		8.5	%
Fair values of plans assets utilizing fair value hierarchy	'
	The fair values of the Company’s postretirement plan assets at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, utilizing the fair value hierarchy discussed in Note 2, follow:

			28-Dec-13
			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Fixed Income:
	Insurance contracts		$	—		$	—		$	1,187,603		$	1,187,603
	Total		$	—		$	—		$	1,187,603		$	1,187,603

			29-Dec-12
			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Fixed Income:
	Insurance contracts		$	—		$	—		$	1,204,779		$	1,204,779
	Total		$	—		$	—		$	1,204,779		$	1,204,779
Analysis of the Level 3 assets of the Company's postretirement plan	'
	An analysis of the Level 3 asset of the Company’s postretirement plan is as follows:

			2013			2012
	Fair value of Level 3 assets at beginning of year		$	1,204,779		$	1,215,998
	Change due to availability of final actual assets and census data			12,577			(3,005	)
	Actual return on plan assets			73,920			46,255
	Employer contributions			34,565			71,655
	Benefits paid			(138,238	)		(126,124	)
	Fair value of Level 3 assets at end of year		$	1,187,603		$	1,204,779
Effect of one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates	'
	A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects on the postretirement benefit plan:

			1-Percentage Point
			Increase			Decrease
	Effect on total of service and interest cost components		$	58,361		$	(47,201	)

	Effect on postretirement benefit obligation		$	514,000		$	(423,068	)

REPORTABLE_SEGMENTS_Tables

REPORTABLE SEGMENTS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
REPORTABLE SEGMENTS (Tables)	Dec. 28, 2013
REPORTABLE SEGMENTS [Abstract]	'
Segment financial information	'
	No other customer exceeded 10% of total revenue in 2013, 2012 or 2011.

		2013			2012			2011
	Revenue:
	Sales to unaffiliated customers:
	Industrial Hardware	$	60,367,209		$	72,268,559		$	66,119,119
	Security Products		48,751,688			50,138,121			47,972,152
	Metal Products		33,339,382			35,102,505			28,764,778
		$	142,458,279		$	157,509,185		$	142,856,049

	Inter-segment Revenue:
	Industrial Hardware	$	373,797		$	270,911		$	330,150
	Security Products		2,558,127			2,914,667			2,751,060
	Metal Products		11,540			—			127,138
		$	2,943,464		$	3,185,578		$	3,208,348

			2013			2012			2011
	Income Before Income Taxes:
	Industrial Hardware	$	4,797,254		$	7,566,512		$	4,912,341
	Security Products		2,780,403			4,113,661			3,408,187
	Metal Products		2,808,664			1,871,250			391,652
	Operating Profit		10,386,321			13,551,423			8,712,180
	Interest expense		(322,731	)		(369,357	)		(231,481	)
	Other income		50,305			42,452			26,230
		$	10,113,895		$	13,224,518		$	8,506,929

	Geographic Information:
	Net Sales:
	United States	$	114,085,322		$	120,604,363		$	107,472,590
	Foreign		28,372,957			36,904,822			35,383,459
		$	142,458,279		$	157,509,185		$	142,856,049

	Foreign sales are primarily to customers in North America.

	Identifiable Assets:
	United States	$	96,289,200		$	95,441,029		$	86,844,921
	Foreign		17,569,209			20,413,121			19,855,053
		$	113,858,409		$	115,854,150		$	106,699,974

	Industrial Hardware	$	31,820,269		$	34,425,594		$	32,298,527
	Security Products		43,582,088			41,857,156			42,149,711
	Metal Products		19,282,393			18,281,619			16,814,255
			94,684,750			94,564,369			91,262,493
	General corporate		19,173,659			21,289,781			15,437,481
		$	113,858,409		$	115,854,150		$	106,699,974

	Depreciation and Amortization:
	Industrial Hardware	$	2,085,618		$	1,769,097		$	1,768,975
	Security Products		592,555			628,652			984,879
	Metal Products		1,147,113			1,042,051			953,362
		$	3,825,286		$	3,439,800		$	3,707,216

	Capital Expenditures:
	Industrial Hardware	$	1,967,335		$	1,552,147		$	1,568,779
	Security Products		469,669			260,692			331,619
	Metal Products		3,002,556			2,337,104			1,477,222
			5,439,560			4,149,943			3,377,620
	Currency translation adjustment		(245	)		(2,730	)		7,132
	General corporate		84,427			69,757			9,974
		$	5,523,742		$	4,216,970		$	3,394,726

SELECTED_QUARTERLY_FINANCIAL_I1

SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) [Abstract]	'
Selected quarterly financial information (unaudited)	'
	Selected quarterly financial information (unaudited) follows:

		2013
		First		Second		Third		Fourth		Year
	Net sales	$	34,692,174	$	39,247,980	$	34,256,086	$	34,262,039	$	142,458,279
	Gross margin		6,266,580		8,530,842		7,224,409		8,125,689		30,147,520
	Selling and administrative expenses		4,681,296		5,223,185		4,767,505		5,089,213		19,761,199
	Net income		1,005,248		2,174,294		1,798,783		1,923,596		6,901,921

	Net income per share:
	Basic	$	0.16	$	0.35	$	0.29	$	0.31	$	1.11
	Diluted	$	0.16	$	0.35	$	0.29	$	0.31	$	1.11

	Weighted average shares outstanding:
	Basic		6,219,775		6,220,569		6,221,515		6,221,851		6,220,928
	Diluted		6,236,842		6,238,025		6,238,074		6,238,089		6,237,758

		2012
		First		Second		Third		Fourth		Year
	Net sales	$	40,495,894	$	41,559,589	$	39,644,050	$	35,809,652	$	157,509,185
	Gross margin		8,184,466		9,245,390		8,165,493		7,757,129		33,352,478
	Selling and administrative expenses		5,015,052		5,101,156		4,830,971		4,853,876		19,801,055
	Net (loss)/income		2,045,608		2,632,346		2,223,975		1,723,871		8,625,800

	Net (loss)/income per share:
	Basic	$	0.33	$	0.42	$	0.36	$	0.28	$	1.39
	Diluted	$	0.33	$	0.42	$	0.36	$	0.28	$	1.38

	Weighted average shares outstanding:
	Basic		6,213,913		6,217,198		6,219,241		6,219,384		6,216,931
	Diluted		6,231,739		6,231,335		6,234,727		6,237,709		6,233,375

DESCRIPTION_OF_BUSINESS_Detail

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013
	Segment
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS [Abstract]	'
Number of operating segments	3

ACCOUNTING_POLICIES_Details

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 29, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash Equivalents and Concentrations of Credit Risk [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Amount of deposits insured by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)	$250,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$250,000	'	'
Inventory [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
LIFO inventory amount	23,922,496	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	23,922,496	'	'
FIFO inventory amount	6,735,116	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	6,735,116	'	'
Excess of current cost over LIFO carrying value	6,689,000	'	'	'	6,302,000	'	'	'	6,689,000	6,302,000	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	3,592,263	3,210,324	3,155,717
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Amortization expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	233,023	229,476	551,499
Amortization expense fiscal year maturity [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
2014	231,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	231,000	'	'
2015	231,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	231,000	'	'
2016	231,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	231,000	'	'
2017	231,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	231,000	'	'
2018	231,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	231,000	'	'
Gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of amortizable intangible assets [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Gross Amount	3,637,181	'	'	'	3,759,555	'	'	'	3,637,181	3,759,555	'
Accumulated Amortization	2,179,678	'	'	'	2,105,598	'	'	'	2,179,678	2,105,598	'
Net per Balance Sheet	1,457,503	'	'	'	1,653,957	'	'	'	1,457,503	1,653,957	'
Weighted-Average Amortization Period	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'16 years	'15 years 9 months 18 days	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	'	'	'	13,933,599	'	'	'	13,905,209	13,933,599	13,905,209	'
Foreign exchange	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-91,552	28,390	'
Ending balance	13,842,047	'	'	'	13,933,599	'	'	'	13,842,047	13,933,599	13,905,209
Product development costs [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Product development costs	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	991,286	814,096	825,778
Advertising costs [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Advertising costs	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	486,027	442,300	386,908
Basic [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	6,221,851	6,221,515	6,220,569	6,219,775	6,219,384	6,219,241	6,217,198	6,213,913	6,220,928	6,216,931	6,178,664
Diluted [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	6,221,851	6,221,515	6,220,569	6,219,775	6,219,384	6,219,241	6,217,198	6,213,913	6,220,928	6,216,931	6,178,664
Dilutive stock options (in shares)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	16,830	16,444	37,529
Denominator for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	6,238,089	6,238,074	6,238,025	6,236,842	6,237,709	6,234,727	6,231,335	6,231,739	6,237,758	6,233,375	6,216,193
Anti-dilutive stock options (in shares)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0
Stock Based Compensation [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based compensation expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0
Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Options granted (in shares)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0
Industrial Hardware Segment [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of amortizable intangible assets [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Gross Amount	2,595,931	'	'	'	2,732,307	'	'	'	2,595,931	2,732,307	'
Accumulated Amortization	1,676,440	'	'	'	1,652,199	'	'	'	1,676,440	1,652,199	'
Net per Balance Sheet	919,491	'	'	'	1,080,108	'	'	'	919,491	1,080,108	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	'	'	'	2,099,783	'	'	'	2,071,393	2,099,783	2,071,393	'
Foreign exchange	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-91,552	28,390	'
Ending balance	2,008,231	'	'	'	2,099,783	'	'	'	2,008,231	2,099,783	'
Security Products Segment [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of amortizable intangible assets [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Gross Amount	1,041,250	'	'	'	1,021,409	'	'	'	1,041,250	1,021,409	'
Accumulated Amortization	503,238	'	'	'	447,732	'	'	'	503,238	447,732	'
Net per Balance Sheet	538,012	'	'	'	573,677	'	'	'	538,012	573,677	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	'	'	'	11,833,816	'	'	'	11,833,816	11,833,816	11,833,816	'
Foreign exchange	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	'
Ending balance	11,833,816	'	'	'	11,833,816	'	'	'	11,833,816	11,833,816	'
Metal Products Segment [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of amortizable intangible assets [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Gross Amount	0	'	'	'	5,839	'	'	'	0	5,839	'
Accumulated Amortization	0	'	'	'	5,667	'	'	'	0	5,667	'
Net per Balance Sheet	0	'	'	'	172	'	'	'	0	172	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	'	'	'	0	'	'	'	0	0	0	'
Foreign exchange	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	'
Ending balance	$0	'	'	'	$0	'	'	'	$0	$0	'
Non-Compete Agreements [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Useful lives of intangible assets	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'5 years	'	'
Minimum [Member] \| Technology and Licenses [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Useful lives of intangible assets	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'5 years	'	'
Maximum [Member] \| Technology and Licenses [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Useful lives of intangible assets	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'17 years	'	'
Building [Member] \| Minimum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated useful lives of the assets	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'10 years	'	'
Building [Member] \| Maximum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated useful lives of the assets	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'39 years 6 months	'	'
Machinery and Equipment [Member] \| Minimum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated useful lives of the assets	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'3 years	'	'
Machinery and Equipment [Member] \| Maximum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated useful lives of the assets	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'10 years	'	'
Accounts Receivable [Member] \| Customer Concentration Risk [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of major customers	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	'
Threshold percentage of concentration risk (in hundredths)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	10.00%	10.00%	'

CONTINGENCIES_Details

CONTINGENCIES (Details)	Dec. 28, 2013
CONTINGENCIES [Abstract]	'
Total workforce subject to negotiated union contracts (in hundredths)	33.00%
Total workforce covered by union contract agreements expiring during 2013 (in hundredths)	3.00%

DEBT_Details

DEBT (Details) (USD $)

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

Jan. 29, 2010

Dec. 28, 2013

Dec. 29, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 28, 2013

Jan. 25, 2012

Jan. 29, 2010

Dec. 28, 2013

Dec. 29, 2012

Dec. 28, 2013

Jan. 29, 2010

Dec. 28, 2013

Jan. 25, 2012

Dec. 28, 2013

Minimum [Member]

Revolving Credit Loan [Member]

Loan Agreement [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

2012 Term Loan Member]

Maximum [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Maximum borrowing capacity

$10,000,000

$5,000,000

Periodic payment of loan

178,571

Term of loan

'7 years

Maturity date of loan

31-Jan-12

31-Jan-17

31-Jan-19

Revolving credit portion commitment fee (in hundredths)

0.25%

Description of variable rate basis

'LIBOR rate or People's Prime rate

'LIBOR

Basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)

2.25%

Fixed rate of interest (in hundredths)

4.98%

3.90%

Floor rate of loan (in hundredths)

3.25%

3.50%

4.00%

Fixed charge coverage ratio as multiple, minimum

'1.1

Leverage coverage ratio as multiple maximum

'1.75

Extinguishment of debt

10,714,286

Proceeds from line of credit used to fund discretionary pension payment

3,000,000

Schedule of debt [Abstract]

Long term debt

6,071,428

7,499,999

Revolving credit loan

Total debt

6,071,428

7,499,999

Less current portion

1,785,714

1,428,571

Long term debt, less current portion

4,285,714

6,071,428

Debt instrument covenant minimum tangible net worth

55,000,000

Interest paid

319,760

349,972

240,635

Tangible net worth

52,800,000

48,500,000

43,000,000

Tangible net worth (in hundredths)

50.00%

Scheduled annual principal maturities of long-term debt [Abstract]

2014

1,785,714

2015

1,071,429

2016

1,428,571

2017

892,857

2018

714,286

Thereafter

178,571

Long term debt

$6,071,428

$7,499,999

STOCK_RIGHTS_Details

STOCK RIGHTS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
STOCK RIGHTS (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 28, 2013
STOCK RIGHTS [Abstract]	'
Stock rights outstanding (in shares)	6,222,168
Stock rights, exercise price (in dollars per share)	$80
Period after which rights become exercisable upon acquisition of 10 percent or more of common stock	'10 days
Threshold percentage of common stock to be acquired for rights to become exercisable (in hundredths)	10.00%
Stock rights, expiration date	23-Jul-18
Stock rights, redemption price per share (in dollars per share)	$0.01
Ratio of market value of common stock of surviving company to current exercise price of rights in the event of acquisition	2

STOCK_OPTIONS_AND_AWARDS_Detai

STOCK OPTIONS AND AWARDS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
STOCK OPTIONS AND AWARDS (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Number of plans that have shares reserved for further issuance	2	'	'
Percentage of fair market value of stock on grant date for exercise price, minimum (in hundredths)	100.00%	'	'
Options Outstanding and Exercisable [Abstract]	'	'	'
Range of Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$13.58	'	'
Outstanding and Exercisable (in shares)	20,000	'	'
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	'1 year	'	'
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$13.58	'	'
2010 Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Shares available for future grant (in shares)	500,000	'	'
1995 Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Shares available for future grant (in shares)	0	'	'
Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Options granted (in shares)	0	0	0
Shares of common stock reserved under all option plans for future issuance (in shares)	520,000	'	'
Stock option activity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of period (in shares)	21,000	25,500	80,000
Exercised (in shares)	-1,000	-4,500	-54,500
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	20,000	21,000	25,500
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$13.58	$13.58	$12.47
Exercised (in dollars per share)	$13.58	$13.58	$11.95
Outstanding at end of period (in dollars per share)	$13.58	$13.58	$13.58
Options Outstanding and Exercisable [Abstract]	'	'	'
Options outstanding and exercisable, intrinsic value	$50,400	'	'
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised	$1,590	'	'
Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restricted stock granted (in shares)	0	0	0

INCOME_TAXES_Details

INCOME TAXES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
INCOME TAXES (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment	$6,184,873	$5,942,048	$5,480,102
Other	208,938	0	0
Total deferred income tax liabilities	6,393,811	5,942,048	5,480,102
Other postretirement benefits	-787,087	-885,729	-653,238
Inventories	-848,364	-761,613	-1,005,134
Allowance for doubtful accounts	-104,695	-104,903	-94,120
Intangible assets	-373,482	-422,443	-472,243
Accrued compensation	-158,866	-197,582	-224,155
Pensions	-3,828,224	-7,128,057	-5,573,596
Other	0	-116,826	-160,876
Total deferred income tax assets	-6,100,718	-9,617,153	-8,183,362
Net deferred income tax (assets) liabilities	293,093	-3,675,105	-2,703,260
Income before income taxes [Abstract]	'	'	'
Domestic	7,139,039	8,614,664	5,180,467
Foreign	2,974,856	4,609,854	3,326,462
Income before income taxes	10,113,895	13,224,518	8,506,929
Current:	'	'	'
Federal	1,942,271	1,909,172	214,988
Foreign	871,949	1,367,025	830,028
State	162,952	220,820	109,711
Deferred:	'	'	'
Federal	241,821	1,022,660	1,747,620
Foreign	0	0	0
State	-7,019	79,041	99,652
Provision for income taxes	3,211,974	4,598,718	3,001,999
Reconciliation of income taxes computed using U.S. federal statutory rate to that reflected in operations [Abstract]	'	'	'
Income taxes using U.S. federal statutory rate	3,438,724	4,496,336	2,892,356
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	99,245	188,490	133,201
Impact of foreign subsidiaries on effective tax rate	-103,878	136,590	21,329
Impact of manufacturers deduction on effective tax rate	-138,127	-232,928	-50,537
Other-net	-83,990	10,230	5,650
Provision for income taxes	3,211,974	4,598,718	3,001,999
Income taxes using U.S. federal statutory rate (in hundredths)	34.00%	34.00%	34.00%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit (in hundredths)	1.00%	2.00%	2.00%
Impact of foreign subsidiaries on effective tax rate (in hundredths)	-1.00%	1.00%	0.00%
Impact of manufacturers deduction on effective tax rate (in hundredths)	-1.00%	-2.00%	-1.00%
Other-net (in hundredths)	-1.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Effective income tax rate (in hundredths)	32.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Total income taxes paid	2,568,708	3,350,283	1,631,299
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries	13,791,838	'	'
Tax benefit from exercise of non-qualified stock options and disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options	0	0	106,471
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of year	499,624	486,332	495,843
Increases for positions taken during the current period	49,636	119,893	25,398
Decreases relating to settlements	-263,856	0	0
Decreases resulting from the expiration of the statute of limitations	-65,115	-106,601	-34,909
Balance at end of year	220,289	499,624	486,332
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]	'	'	'
Unrecognized tax benefits that would affect the annual effective tax rate	145,391	'	'
Accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits	$28,000	'	'
U.S. federal [Member]	'	'	'
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]	'	'	'
Open tax year	'2010	'	'
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]	'	'	'
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]	'	'	'
Open tax year	'2010	'	'
Foreign Jurisdiction [Member]	'	'	'
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]	'	'	'
Open tax year	'2007	'	'

LEASES_Details

LEASES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
LEASES (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases [Abstract]	'	'	'
Rent expense for all operating leases	$1,093,895	$1,159,913	$1,243,494
Non-Cancelable Leases [Member]	'	'	'
Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases [Abstract]	'	'	'
2014	1,071,929	'	'
2015	1,098,323	'	'
2016	521,097	'	'
2017	313,845	'	'
2018	134,228	'	'
Total	3,139,422	'	'
All Leases of All Kinds [Member] \| Minimum [Member]	'	'	'
Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases [Abstract]	'	'	'
2014	1,100,000	'	'
2015	1,100,000	'	'
2016	1,100,000	'	'
2017	1,100,000	'	'
2018	1,100,000	'	'
All Leases of All Kinds [Member] \| Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases [Abstract]	'	'	'
2014	1,300,000	'	'
2015	1,300,000	'	'
2016	1,300,000	'	'
2017	1,300,000	'	'
2018	$1,300,000	'	'

RETIREMENT_BENEFIT_PLANS_Detai

RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013		Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
	Plan		Plan	Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'	'
Contributions made by Company	'		'	$5,000,000
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Employer contributions	'		'	5,000,000
Funded status [Abstract]	'		'	'
Net amount recognized in the balance sheet	-10,930,815		-20,181,361	'
Assumptions used to determine the projected benefit obligations [Abstract]	'		'	'
Discount rate (in hundredths)	4.80%		3.90%	'
Expected return on plan assets (in hundredths)	8.00%		8.00%	'
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)	3.25%		3.25%	'
Accumulated benefit obligation for all qualified and nonqualified defined benefit pension plans	71,403,778		66,735,124	'
Pension plans with projected benefit obligation and accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets [Abstract]	'		'	'
Number of plans	5	[1]	6	'
Projected benefit obligation	68,781,752		74,825,969	'
Accumulated benefit obligation	68,974,332		66,735,124	'
Fair value of plan assets	57,850,937		54,644,608	'
Net amount recognized in accrued benefit liability	-10,930,815		-20,181,361	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Period of horizon for various asset classes used in calculating expected long term rates of return	'10 years		'	'
Number of shares of employer common stock included plan assets (in shares)	193,624		'	'
Value of employer common stock included plan assets	3,082,494		3,063,132	'
Dividends received from employer common stock	81,322		96,812	'
Health care cost trend rate for participants after January 1, 1991 (in hundredths)	0.00%		'	'
Ultimate health care cost trend rate (in hundredths)	4.50%		'	'
Effect of one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates on postretirement benefit plan [Abstract]	'		'	'
Percentage of voluntary contributions allowed to participants, maximum (in hundredths)	100.00%		'	'
Employer contributions made	194,068		187,531	179,400
Equity Securities [Member]	'		'	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Long-term target allocations for plan assets (in hundredths)	50.00%		'	'
Long Duration Fixed Income [Member]	'		'	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Long-term target plan asset allocations relating to fixed income (in hundredths)	20.00%		'	'
Fixed income [Member]	'		'	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Long-term target allocations for plan assets (in hundredths)	50.00%		'	'
Pension Benefits [Member]	'		'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'	'
Contributions made by Company	3,254,635		3,778,692	'
Components of the net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]	'		'	'
Service cost	3,028,863		2,642,373	2,141,306
Interest cost	2,840,622		2,868,528	2,949,672
Expected return on plan assets	-4,827,393		-3,930,988	-3,650,282
Amortization of prior service cost	256,459		221,049	194,148
Amortization of the net loss	1,844,139		1,111,900	897,052
Net periodic benefit cost	3,142,690		2,912,862	2,531,896
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]	'		'	'
Discount rate (in hundredths)	3.90%		4.55%	5.35%
Expected return on plan assets (in hundredths)	8.00%		8.00%	8.50%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)	3.25%		3.25%	4.25%
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	74,825,969		64,709,379	'
Change due to availability of final actual assets and census data	0		0	'
Plan amendment	132,378		831,201	'
Service cost	3,028,863		2,642,373	2,141,306
Interest cost	2,840,622		2,868,528	2,949,672
Actuarial (gain)/loss	-7,187,997		6,117,680	'
Benefits paid	-2,428,637		-2,343,192	'
Benefit obligation at end of year	71,211,198		74,825,969	64,709,379
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	54,644,608		48,897,760	'
Change due to availability of final actual assets and census data	0		0	'
Actual return on plan assets	4,880,381		4,311,348	'
Employer contributions	3,254,635		3,778,692	'
Benefits paid	-2,428,637		-2,343,192	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	60,350,987		54,644,608	48,897,760
Funded status [Abstract]	'		'	'
Net amount recognized in the balance sheet	-10,860,211		-20,181,361	'
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income [Abstract]	'		'	'
Net loss	-19,261,651		-28,346,776	'
Prior service (cost) credit	-813,855		-937,936	'
Total	-20,075,506		-29,284,712	-24,049,140
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in components of accumulated other comprehensive income [Abstract]	'		'	'
Balance at beginning of period	-29,284,712		-24,049,140	'
Change due to availability of final actual assets and census data	0		0	'
Charged to net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]	'		'	'
Prior service cost	256,459		221,049	194,148
Net loss (gain)	1,844,139		1,111,900	897,052
Other changes [Abstract]	'		'	'
Liability (gains)/losses	7,108,608		-6,568,521	'
Balance at end of period	-20,075,506		-29,284,712	-24,049,140
Amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income in next fiscal year [Abstract]	'		'	'
Net (loss) gain	944,130		'	'
Prior service cost (credit)	218,585		'	'
Pension plans with projected benefit obligation and accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets [Abstract]	'		'	'
Net amount recognized in accrued benefit liability	-10,860,211		-20,181,361	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
2014	2,800,000		'	'
2015	2,900,000		'	'
2016	3,000,000		'	'
2017	3,100,000		'	'
2018	3,200,000		'	'
2019 through 2023	19,100,000		'	'
Contributions expected to be made by Company in next fiscal year	2,500,000		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	60,350,987		54,644,608	48,897,760
Number of plans excluded	1		'	'
Over-funded amount	70,000		'	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	3,082,494		3,063,132	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	3,082,494		3,063,132	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	56,971,472		51,581,476	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	56,971,472		51,581,476	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0		0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Common/Collective Trust Funds [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	204,874		193,497	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	204,874		193,497	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Common/Collective Trust Funds [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0		0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Common/Collective Trust Funds [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	204,874		193,497	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	204,874		193,497	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Common/Collective Trust Funds [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0		0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| The Eastern Company Common Stock [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	3,082,494		3,063,132	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	3,082,494		3,063,132	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| The Eastern Company Common Stock [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	3,082,494		3,063,132	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	3,082,494		3,063,132	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| The Eastern Company Common Stock [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0		0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| The Eastern Company Common Stock [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0		0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| U.S. Large Cap [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	6,643,640	[2]	5,826,726	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	6,643,640	[2]	5,826,726	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| U.S. Large Cap [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[2]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[2]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| U.S. Large Cap [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	6,643,640	[2]	5,826,726	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	6,643,640	[2]	5,826,726	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| U.S. Large Cap [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[2]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[2]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| U.S. Small Cap [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	4,485,040	[3]	3,964,072	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	4,485,040	[3]	3,964,072	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| U.S. Small Cap [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[3]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[3]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| U.S. Small Cap [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	4,485,040	[3]	3,964,072	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	4,485,040	[3]	3,964,072	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| U.S. Small Cap [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[3]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[3]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Concentrated Equity [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	5,578,600	[4]	4,899,023	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	5,578,600	[4]	4,899,023	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Concentrated Equity [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[4]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[4]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Concentrated Equity [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	5,578,600	[4]	4,899,023	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	5,578,600	[4]	4,899,023	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Concentrated Equity [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[4]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[4]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| International Large Cap with Active Currency [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	7,788,246	[5]	6,999,997	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	7,788,246	[5]	6,999,997	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| International Large Cap with Active Currency [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[5]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[5]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| International Large Cap with Active Currency [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	7,788,246	[5]	6,999,997	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	7,788,246	[5]	6,999,997	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| International Large Cap with Active Currency [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[5]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[5]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Emerging Market [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	3,231,355	[6]	3,017,350	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	3,231,355	[6]	3,017,350	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Emerging Market [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[6]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[6]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Emerging Market [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	3,231,355	[6]	3,017,350	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	3,231,355	[6]	3,017,350	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Emerging Market [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[6]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[6]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Intermediate Bond [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	15,817,474	[7]	14,368,745	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	15,817,474	[7]	14,368,745	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Intermediate Bond [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[7]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[7]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Intermediate Bond [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	15,817,474	[7]	14,368,745	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	15,817,474	[7]	14,368,745	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Intermediate Bond [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[7]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[7]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 6 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	211,661	[8]	215,604	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	211,661	[8]	215,604	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 6 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[8]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[8]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 6 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	211,661	[8]	215,604	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	211,661	[8]	215,604	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 6 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[8]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[8]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 8 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	211,101	[8]	214,968	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	211,101	[8]	214,968	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 8 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[8]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[8]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 8 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	211,101	[8]	214,968	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	211,101	[8]	214,968	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 8 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[8]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[8]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 10 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	316,556	[8]	306,535	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	316,556	[8]	306,535	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 10 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[8]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[8]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 10 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	316,556	[8]	306,535	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	316,556	[8]	306,535	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 10 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[8]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[8]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 12 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	845,278	[8]	824,342	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	845,278	[8]	824,342	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 12 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[8]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[8]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 12 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	845,278	[8]	824,342	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	845,278	[8]	824,342	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 12 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[8]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[8]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 14 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	1,108,960	[8]	1,087,074	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	1,108,960	[8]	1,087,074	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 14 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[8]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[8]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 14 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	1,108,960	[8]	1,087,074	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	1,108,960	[8]	1,087,074	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 14 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[8]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[8]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 16 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	475,035	[8]	426,544	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	475,035	[8]	426,544	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 16 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[8]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[8]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 16 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	475,035	[8]	426,544	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	475,035	[8]	426,544	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| 16 Year Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Fund [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[8]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[8]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Long Duration Fixed Credit [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	7,363,673	[9]	6,684,999	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	7,363,673	[9]	6,684,999	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Long Duration Fixed Credit [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[9]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[9]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Long Duration Fixed Credit [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	7,363,673	[9]	6,684,999	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	7,363,673	[9]	6,684,999	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Long Duration Fixed Credit [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	[9]	0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[9]	0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Insurance Contracts [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	2,689,979		2,552,000	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	2,689,979		2,552,000	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Insurance Contracts [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0		0	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Insurance Contracts [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	2,689,979		2,552,000	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	2,689,979		2,552,000	'
Pension Benefits [Member] \| Insurance Contracts [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0		0	'
Postretirement Benefits [Member]	'		'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'	'
Contributions made by Company	34,565		71,655	'
Components of the net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]	'		'	'
Service cost	202,568		173,613	126,464
Interest cost	142,086		143,388	136,752
Expected return on plan assets	-73,920		-46,255	-52,920
Amortization of prior service cost	-23,888		-23,889	-23,888
Amortization of the net loss	-4,608		-50,784	-46,380
Net periodic benefit cost	242,238		196,073	140,028
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]	'		'	'
Discount rate (in hundredths)	3.90%		4.55%	5.35%
Expected return on plan assets (in hundredths)	8.00%		8.00%	8.50%
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	3,712,505		3,069,155	'
Change due to availability of final actual assets and census data	0		151,397	'
Plan amendment	0		0	'
Service cost	202,568		173,613	126,464
Interest cost	142,086		143,388	136,752
Actuarial (gain)/loss	-498,446		301,076	'
Benefits paid	-138,238		-126,124	'
Benefit obligation at end of year	3,420,475		3,712,505	3,069,155
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	1,204,779		1,215,998	'
Change due to availability of final actual assets and census data	12,577		-3,005	'
Actual return on plan assets	73,920		46,255	'
Employer contributions	34,565		71,655	'
Benefits paid	-138,238		-126,124	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	1,187,603		1,204,779	1,215,998
Funded status [Abstract]	'		'	'
Net amount recognized in the balance sheet	-2,232,872		-2,507,726	'
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income [Abstract]	'		'	'
Net loss	-115,052		-621,467	'
Prior service (cost) credit	111,508		135,396	'
Total	-3,544		-486,071	44,080
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in components of accumulated other comprehensive income [Abstract]	'		'	'
Balance at beginning of period	-486,071		44,080	'
Change due to availability of final actual assets and census data	12,577		-154,402	'
Charged to net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]	'		'	'
Prior service cost	-23,888		-23,889	-23,888
Net loss (gain)	-4,608		-50,784	-46,380
Other changes [Abstract]	'		'	'
Liability (gains)/losses	498,446		-301,076	'
Balance at end of period	-3,544		-486,071	44,080
Amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income in next fiscal year [Abstract]	'		'	'
Net (loss) gain	0		'	'
Prior service cost (credit)	24,000		'	'
Pension plans with projected benefit obligation and accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets [Abstract]	'		'	'
Net amount recognized in accrued benefit liability	-2,232,872		-2,507,726	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
2014	164,000		'	'
2015	172,000		'	'
2016	184,000		'	'
2017	193,000		'	'
2018	202,000		'	'
2019 through 2023	1,186,000		'	'
Contributions expected to be made by Company in next fiscal year	63,000		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	1,187,603		1,204,779	1,215,998
Life insurance cost trend rate (in hundredths)	1.00%		'	'
Effect of one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates on postretirement benefit plan [Abstract]	'		'	'
Effect of 1-percentage point increase on total of service and interest cost components	58,361		'	'
Effect of 1-percentage point decrease on total of service and interest cost components	-47,201		'	'
Effect of 1-percentage point increase on postretirement benefit obligation	514,000		'	'
Effect of 1-percentage point decrease on postretirement benefit obligation	-423,068		'	'
Postretirement Benefits [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0		0	'
Postretirement Benefits [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0		0	'
Postretirement Benefits [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'	'
Contributions made by Company	34,565		71,655	'
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Benefits paid	-138,238		-126,124	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	1,204,779		1,215,998	'
Change due to availability of final actual assets and census data	12,577		-3,005	'
Actual return on plan assets	73,920		46,255	'
Employer contributions	34,565		71,655	'
Benefits paid	-138,238		-126,124	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	1,187,603		1,204,779	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	1,187,603		1,204,779	'
Postretirement Benefits [Member] \| Insurance Contracts [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	1,187,603		1,204,779	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	1,187,603		1,204,779	'
Postretirement Benefits [Member] \| Insurance Contracts [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0		0	'
Postretirement Benefits [Member] \| Insurance Contracts [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0		0	'
Postretirement Benefits [Member] \| Insurance Contracts [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]	'		'	'
Change in fair value of plan assets [Roll Forward]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	1,187,603		1,204,779	'
Estimated future benefit payments to participants [Abstract]	'		'	'
Fair value of plan assets	$1,187,603		$1,204,779	'

[1]	Information relating to one of the Companybs pension plans is excluded from the above table as this plan was over-funded by approximately $70,000 at December 28, 2013.
[2]	The investment objective of the large cap fund is to outperform the Russell 1000B. Index. The fund is designed to provide for long-term growth of capital by utilizing a diversified group of quantitative investment strategies that seek to identify securities that have exposure to factors that the underlying advisorsb research has found to be predictive of future excess returns. The advisorsb portfolios are quantitatively structured to gain exposure to these predictive characteristics while minimizing unintended risk exposures.
[3]	The small cap fund has an objective to outperform the Russell 2500B. Index The fund is designed to achieve consistency by combining advisors whose complementary disciplined processes employ distinct methods for identifying small capitalization U.S. stocks with strong return potential. Advisors in the fund use a wide range of criteria and disciplines in their stock selection, focusing on factors such as: undervalued or under-researched companies, special situations, emerging growth, asset plays or turnarounds.
[4]	The investment objective of the concentrated equity fund is to outperform the Russell 1000B. Index. The fund is designed to achieve this by combining strategies with different payoffs over different phases of an economic and stock market cycle. To help achieve this objective, multiple advisors and strategies are employed to reduce bscenario risk.b These multiple strategies are in the form of multiple investment styles (e.g., growth, market oriented, and value), multiple sub-styles, and different ways of identifying undervalued securities.
[5]	The international fund with active currency has an investment objective of outperforming the Russell Development ex-U.S. Large Cap Index Net. The fund is designed to provide the potential for long-term growth of capital by utilizing a diversified group of investment advisors that the Trusteebs managerbs research indicates will outperform over a full market cycle. The investment advisorsb portfolios are combined to form a fund that emphasizes their strengths while minimizing unintended risk exposures.
[6]	The emerging market fund seeks to outperform the Russell Emerging Markets Index Net. The fund is designed to provide the potential for long-term growth of capital by utilizing a diversified market group of investment advisors that the Trusteebs managerbs research indicates will outperform over a full market cycle. The investment advisorsb portfolios are combined to form a fund that emphasizes their strengths while minimizing unintended risk exposures.
[7]	Fixed income common fund investments have an investment objective of outperforming the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index over a full market cycle. The fund is designed to provide current income, and as a secondary objective, capital appreciation through a variety of diversified strategies including sector rotation, modest interest rate timing, security selection and tactical use of high yield and emerging market bonds. The portfolio diversification provides protection against a single security or class of securities having a disproportionate impact on aggregate performance. To help achieve the objective, the fund is actively managed by multiple advisors who use a variety of investment strategies to create a broad market exposure. The fundbs advisors have distinct but complementary investment styles. These advisors generally have similar universes of investable securities but have different areas of specialization and expertise within intermediate duration securities.
[8]	The Target Duration LDI Fixed Income Funds seek to outperform their respective Barclays-Russell LDI Indexes over a full market cycle. These Funds seek to provide current income, and as a secondary objective, capital appreciation through diversified strategies including sector rotation, modest interest rate timing, security selection and tactical use of high yield and emerging market bonds. The Funds will generally be used in combination with other bond funds to enable the plans to gain additional credit exposure within their asset portfolio, with the goal of reducing the mismatch between a planbs assets and liabilities.
[9]	The long duration fixed credit fund seeks to outperform the Barclays Capital Long Credit Index over a full market cycle. The fund seeks to provide current income, and as a secondary objective, capital appreciation through diversified strategies including sector rotation, modest interest rate timing, security selection and tactical use of high yield and emerging market bonds. The fund will generally be used in combination with other bond funds, with the goal of reducing the mismatch between a planbs assets and liabilities.

REPORTABLE_SEGMENTS_Details

REPORTABLE SEGMENTS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
REPORTABLE SEGMENTS (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenues	$142,458,279	$157,509,185	$142,856,049
Operating profit	10,386,321	13,551,423	8,712,180
Interest expense	-322,731	-369,357	-231,481
Other income	50,305	42,452	26,230
Income before income taxes	10,113,895	13,224,518	8,506,929
Assets	113,858,409	115,854,150	106,699,974
Depreciation and amortization	3,825,286	3,439,800	3,707,216
Capital expenditures before currency translation adjustment	5,439,560	4,149,943	3,377,620
Currency translation adjustment	-245	-2,730	7,132
Total capital expenditures	5,523,742	4,216,970	3,394,726
United States [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenues	114,085,322	120,604,363	107,472,590
Assets	96,289,200	95,441,029	86,844,921
Foreign [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenues	28,372,957	36,904,822	35,383,459
Assets	17,569,209	20,413,121	19,855,053
Industrial Hardware [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Operating profit	4,797,254	7,566,512	4,912,341
Assets	31,820,269	34,425,594	32,298,527
Depreciation and amortization	2,085,618	1,769,097	1,768,975
Capital expenditures before currency translation adjustment	1,967,335	1,552,147	1,568,779
Security Products [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Operating profit	2,780,403	4,113,661	3,408,187
Assets	43,582,088	41,857,156	42,149,711
Depreciation and amortization	592,555	628,652	984,879
Capital expenditures before currency translation adjustment	469,669	260,692	331,619
Metal Products [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Operating profit	2,808,664	1,871,250	391,652
Assets	19,282,393	18,281,619	16,814,255
Depreciation and amortization	1,147,113	1,042,051	953,362
Capital expenditures before currency translation adjustment	3,002,556	2,337,104	1,477,222
Operating Segments [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Assets	94,684,750	94,564,369	91,262,493
General corporate [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Assets	19,173,659	21,289,781	15,437,481
Capital expenditures before currency translation adjustment	84,427	69,757	9,974
Operating Segments [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenues	142,458,279	157,509,185	142,856,049
Operating Segments [Member] \| Industrial Hardware [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenues	60,367,209	72,268,559	66,119,119
Operating Segments [Member] \| Security Products [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenues	48,751,688	50,138,121	47,972,152
Operating Segments [Member] \| Metal Products [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenues	33,339,382	35,102,505	28,764,778
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenues	2,943,464	3,185,578	3,208,348
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] \| Industrial Hardware [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenues	373,797	270,911	330,150
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] \| Security Products [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenues	2,558,127	2,914,667	2,751,060
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] \| Metal Products [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenues	$11,540	$0	$127,138
Sales Revenue [Member] \| Customer Concentration Risk [Member]	'	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'	'
Number of major customers	1	0	0
Threshold percentage of concentration risk (in hundredths)	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Threshold percentage of customer exceeded 10% of total revenue (in hundredths)	11.50%	'	'

FINANCIAL_INSTRUMENTS_AND_FAIR1

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details)	Jan. 25, 2012	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Term Loan [Member]	'	'	'
Interest Rate Risk [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fixed rate of interest (in hundredths)	'	4.98%	'
2012 Term Loan Member]	'	'	'
Interest Rate Risk [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fixed rate of interest (in hundredths)	'	3.90%	'
Revolving Credit Loan [Member]	'	'	'
Interest Rate Risk [Abstract]	'	'	'
Description of variable rate basis	'LIBOR rate or People's Prime rate	'LIBOR	'LIBOR
Basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)	2.25%	2.25%	'
Floor rate of loan (in hundredths)	3.25%	3.50%	'
Credit Concentration Risk [Member]	'	'	'
Credit Risk [Abstract]	'	'	'
Number of customers that represented more than 10% of trade receivables	'	0	0

SELECTED_QUARTERLY_FINANCIAL_I2

SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 29, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	$34,262,039	$34,256,086	$39,247,980	$34,692,174	$35,809,652	$39,644,050	$41,559,589	$40,495,894	$142,458,279	$157,509,185	$142,856,049
Gross margin	8,125,689	7,224,409	8,530,842	6,266,580	7,757,129	8,165,493	9,245,390	8,184,466	30,147,520	33,352,478	27,351,606
Selling and administrative expenses	5,089,213	4,767,505	5,223,185	4,681,296	4,853,876	4,830,971	5,101,156	5,015,052	19,761,199	19,801,055	18,639,426
Net (loss)/income	$1,923,596	$1,798,783	$2,174,294	$1,005,248	$1,723,871	$2,223,975	$2,632,346	$2,045,608	$6,901,921	$8,625,800	$5,504,930
Net (loss)/income per share [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Basic (in dollars per share)	$0.31	$0.29	$0.35	$0.16	$0.28	$0.36	$0.42	$0.33	$1.11	$1.39	$0.89
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$0.31	$0.29	$0.35	$0.16	$0.28	$0.36	$0.42	$0.33	$1.11	$1.38	$0.89
Weighted average shares outstanding [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Basic (in shares)	6,221,851	6,221,515	6,220,569	6,219,775	6,219,384	6,219,241	6,217,198	6,213,913	6,220,928	6,216,931	6,178,664
Diluted (in shares)	6,238,089	6,238,074	6,238,025	6,236,842	6,237,709	6,234,727	6,231,335	6,231,739	6,237,758	6,233,375	6,216,193

Schedule_II_Valuation_and_Qual1

Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying accounts (Details) (Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013		Dec. 29, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member]	'		'		'
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'		'
Balance at Beginning of Period	$487,000		$423,000		$519,000
Charged to Costs and Expenses	106,485		147,313		44,502
Deductions	183,485	[1]	83,313	[1]	140,502	[1]
Balance at End of Period	$410,000		$487,000		$423,000

[1]	Uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries.