EXHIBIT 10
                                RETIREMENT AGREEMENT
                                -------------------- 

                    This Retirement Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered
          into by Theodore E. Martin (the "Employee") and Barnes Group
          Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") (collectively, the
          "Parties"), in consideration of the respective agreements and
          promises of the Parties contained in this Agreement.  The Parties
          acknowledge that the terms and conditions of this Agreement have
          been voluntarily agreed to and that such terms are intended to be
          final and binding.

                    1.   Retirement.  (a)  It is hereby agreed that
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          Employee will retire on a date mutually agreeable to the Parties,
          but in no event later than December 15, 1998 (the "Retirement
          Date").  Employee agrees that, effective as of the Retirement
          Date, Employee will resign from his positions as President and
          Chief Executive Officer and as an employee and a director of the
          Company and, as applicable, as an employee, officer and director
          of each of the Company's subsidiaries.  Employee further agrees
          to execute any documents as reasonably requested by the Company
          to properly reflect such retirement.  Employee understands and
          agrees that, from and after the Retirement Date, he will no
          longer be authorized to incur any expenses, obligations or
          liabilities on behalf of the Company.

                         (b)  Employee agrees that, for the period
          beginning on the date of this Agreement and expiring on the
          Retirement Date, Employee shall:  (i) continue to hold the titles
          of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company; (ii)
          continue to serve as a director of the Company; and (iii) to the
          extent requested by the Company's Board of Directors or its
          designee, (a) assist in the management of the Company, (b) assist
          in the search and recruitment of a successor and (c) if a
          successor is named prior to the Retirement Date, cooperate with
          the successor until the Retirement Date in facilitating a smooth
          transition of leadership.

                    2.   Retirement Benefits.  Subject to this Agreement
                         -------------------
          becoming effective in accordance with Section 12, and in
          consideration for acceptance of the terms contained in this
          Agreement and the release of claims contained in Section 3, the
          Company agrees to provide Employee with the compensation and
          benefits set forth in paragraphs (a) through (n) of this Section
          2 (the "Retirement Benefits"):

                         (a)  The Company shall continue to pay to Employee
          his base salary, at the rate in effect on the Retirement Date,
          which is $47,084 per month (the "Base Salary"), from the
          Retirement Date until August 21, 2001 (the "Continuation Period"),
          which shall not be reduced by any compensation received by Employee
          from any other employment (including self-employment).  In the
          event Employee dies prior to August 21, 2001, the Employee's
          spouse, or if the Employee's spouse dies prior to August 21, 2001,
          the Employee's designated beneficiary (which may be a trust
          established by Employee), shall be entitled to continue to receive
          the payments to which Employee would have been entitled under this
          paragraph (a) until August 21, 2001.




                         (b)  The Company shall pay to Employee a short
          term incentive award in respect of 1998, which shall be equal to
          $847,512 (150% of the Base Salary) (the "Annual Bonus").  The
          amount and payment of the Annual Bonus shall not be contingent
          upon the attainment of any performance goals.  The Annual Bonus
          in respect of 1998 shall be paid at the same time as annual
          bonuses are paid to the Company's other senior executives in
          respect of 1998 (the "1998 Bonus Payment Date").  In the event
          Employee dies prior to the 1998 Bonus Payment Date, the Employee's
          spouse, or if the Employee's spouse dies prior to the 1998 Bonus
          Payment Date, the Employee's designated beneficiary (which may be
          a trust established by Employee), shall be entitled to receive the
          payment to which Employee would have been entitled under this
          paragraph (b).

                        (c)  On January 5, 1999, and on or before the fifth
          (5th) day of each calendar month through and including August 2001,
          the Company shall pay to Employee an amount equal to $70,626
          (one-twelfth (1/12) of the Annual Bonus); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
          the payment in respect of August 2001 shall be $47,843 (21/31 of
          $70,626).  In the event Employee dies prior to August 21, 2001, the
          Employee's spouse, or if the Employee's spouse dies prior to August
          21, 2001, the Employee's designated beneficiary (which may be a 
          trust established by Employee), shall be entitled to continue to
          receive the payments to which Employee would have been entitled
          under this paragraph (c) until August 21, 2001.

                        (d)  During the Continuation Period, the Company
          shall continue Employee's and his spouse's participation in and
          coverage under the Company's medical and dental plans in which
          the Employee and his spouse participated immediately prior to the
          Retirement Date, subject to Employee's or his spouse's, as the
          case may be, payment of all applicable employee contributions or
          premiums at the rate in effect from time to time for the
          Company's active employees.

                        (e)  Following the Continuation Period, the
          Employee and his spouse shall be eligible for that health
          insurance coverage, if any, generally provided by the Company to
          senior executives retiring on the last day of the Continuation
          Period and their spouses.  Employee's and his spouse's
          eligibility shall be determined as if Employee continued in
          employment with the Company through the end of the Continuation
          Period.

                        (f)  The Company shall continue to pay all
          premiums on Employee's life insurance policy issued under the
          Company's Officer Enhanced Life Insurance Program (the "Life
          Insurance Program") until the Employee's sixty-fifth (65th)
          birthday.  The Company shall provide Employee an income tax
          gross-up equal to the product of (1) 35% plus the applicable
          state income rate and (2) the Employee's taxable income in
          respect of these premiums.

                       (g)  The Company shall pay to Employee within ten
          (10) days after the Retirement Date an amount in cash equal to
          $1,305,420 in satisfaction of all of his outstanding performance
          units under the Company's 1996 Long Term Incentive Plan.

                       (h)  In satisfaction of any benefits payable to
          Employee under the Company's Supplemental Senior Officer
          Retirement Plan (the "SORP"), Supplemental Executive Retirement
          Plan (the "SERP") and Retirement Benefit Equalization Plan, the
          Company shall pay

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          to Employee, beginning September 1, 2001, a
          monthly lifetime benefit under the SORP of $33,576.10 and a
          monthly lifetime benefit under the SERP of $4,977.03.  In the
          event Employee dies after September 1, 2001, and is survived by
          his spouse, Employee's spouse shall be entitled to receive a
          monthly lifetime benefit under the SORP of $16,788.05 commencing
          on the first day of the month following the Employee's death.  No
          benefit is payable to Employee's spouse under the SERP.  In lieu
          of the form of payment specified in this paragraph (h) in respect
          of the SORP, Employee may elect to receive an actuarially
          equivalent benefit payable in any of the optional forms of
          benefit provided under the SORP.  Any such election must be
          irrevocable and made prior to September 1, 2000.  In the event
          Employee dies prior to September 1, 2001, and is survived by his
          spouse, Employee's spouse shall be entitled to receive a monthly
          lifetime benefit, beginning September 1, 2001, equal to
          $16,788.05.  Actuarial equivalence for purposes of this paragraph
          (h) shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the
          SORP as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

                       (i)  Within ten (10) days after the Retirement
          Date, the Company shall  (1) transfer to Employee the title of
          the Company-provided automobile being utilized by the Employee as
          of the Retirement Date and (2) provide Employee an income tax
          gross-up equal to the product of (x) 35% plus the applicable
          state income tax rate and (y) the value of the car includible as
          taxable income by Employee.  The Company shall be responsible for
          any sales tax imposed on the transfer of title.

                       (j)  On or before December 15, 1998, the Company
          shall offer to purchase Employee's primary residence at a price
          established by a third party appraiser selected by Employee and
          reasonably acceptable to the Company.  The Company shall, in
          accordance with the Company's policy, reimburse Employee for the
          costs of relocating Employee and his spouse to any location
          within the forty-eight contiguous states.  The Company shall
          provide Employee an  income tax gross-up equal to the product of
          (1) 35% plus the applicable state income tax rate and (2)
          Employee's taxable income in respect of the Company's purchase of
          Employee's residence and relocation of Employee and his spouse.

                       (k)  During the Continuation Period, the Company
          shall provide Employee with financial planning services in
          accordance with the Company's policy as in effect from time to
          time for the Company's active employees, but, in no event, on
          terms less favorable than under the Company's policy as in effect
          on the date of this Agreement.  The annual cost to the Company
          shall not exceed $5,000.  The Company shall provide Employee an
          income tax gross-up equal to the product of (1) 35% plus the
          applicable state income tax rate and (2) Employee's taxable
          income in respect of the financial planning services.

                       (l)  All outstanding stock options held by the
          Employee shall become vested as of the Retirement Date.  In
          accordance with the Company's amended and restated 1991 Stock
          Incentive Plan, Employee shall have five (5) years from the
          Retirement Date within which to exercise the options; PROVIDED,
          HOWEVER, that if the 1991 Stock Incentive Plan is amended to
          provide for a longer post-employment exercise period, Employee
          shall be allowed to exercise his stock options for that longer
          period which shall be deemed to have commenced on the Retirement
          Date.

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                       (m)  In respect of all incentive stock units granted
          to the Employee, the Company shall pay to the Employee an amount
          equal to the product of (1) 125,199 and (2) the greater of (i)
          the closing per share price of the Company's common stock on the
          Retirement Date and (ii) $30.  The Company shall pay such amount
          in cash within ten (10) days after the Retirement Date.  In addition,
          on January 15, 1999, the Company shall pay to the Employee an amount
          equal to the product of (1) 96,000 and (2) the aggregate per share
          cash dividends paid to the Company's shareholders in the third and
          fourth quarters of 1998.

                       (n)  The Company shall reimburse Employee for his
          attorney's fees in connection with negotiating this Agreement,
          subject to a maximum amount of $1,000.  The Company shall provide
          Employee an income tax gross-up equal to the product of (1) 35%
          plus the applicable state income tax rate and (2) the amount of
          reimbursement.

                    The Retirement Benefits shall be paid or provided
          subject to the withholding of any taxes or other amounts required
          by law to be withheld.

                    Any gross-up payments under Sections 1(f), (i), (j),
          (k) and (n) shall be payable on or before January 15 of the year
          following the year for which the income is includible in the
          Employee's taxable income.

                    It is mutually agreed that a portion of the Retirement
          Benefits provided to Employee under this Section 2 exceed what he
          is already entitled to under the Company's plans, policies and
          practices.


                    3.  Release of Claims.  In consideration for the
                        -----------------
          Retirement Benefits, the sufficiency of which is acknowledged
          hereby, the Employee, with the intention of binding himself and
          his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, does hereby
          release, remise, acquit and forever discharge the Company and its
          present and former officers, directors, executives, agents,
          attorneys, employees, affiliated companies, subsidiaries,
          successors, predecessors and assigns (collectively the "Released
          Parties"), of and from any and all claims, actions, causes of
          action, complaints, charges, demands, rights, damages, debts,
          sums of money, accounts, financial obligations, suits, expenses,
          attorneys' fees and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in
          law, equity or otherwise, whether accrued, absolute, contingent,
          unliquidated or otherwise and whether now known or unknown,
          suspected or unsuspected, which the Employee, individually or as
          a member of a class, now has, owns or holds, or has at any time
          heretofore had, owned or held, against any Released Party arising
          out of or in any way connected with the Employee's employment
          relationship with the Company, its subsidiaries, predecessors or
          affiliated entities, or the termination thereof, including
          without limitation, any claims for severance or vacation
          benefits, unpaid wages, salary or incentive payment, breach of
          contract, wrongful discharge, impairment of economic opportunity,
          defamation, intentional infliction of emotional harm or other
          tort, all applicable state and local labor and employment laws
          (including all laws concerning unlawful and unfair labor and
          employment practices) or employment discrimination under any
          applicable federal, state or local statute, provision, order or
          regulation including, but not limited to, any claim under Title
          VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Title VII"), Civil Rights
          Act of 1988, Fair labor Standards Act, Americans with
          Disabilities Act, Employee Retirement Income Security Act,

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          the Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act ("ADEA") and any
          similar or analogous state statute, including without limitation
          Connecticut's Human Rights Law, excepting only:

                         (a)  those obligations of the Company under this
                              Agreement;

                         (b)  any rights to indemnification the Employee
                              may have under applicable corporate law, the
                              by-laws or certificate of incorporation of any
                              Released Party or as an insured under any
                              Director's and Officer's liability insurance
                              policy now or previously in force; and
 
                         (c)  any claims for benefits under any Company
                              employee benefit plans (within the meaning of
                              Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income
                              Security Act of 1974, as amended).

                         The Employee acknowledges and agrees that this
          Agreement is not to be construed in any way as an admission of
          any liability whatsoever by any Released Party under Title VII,
          ADEA or any other federal or state statute or the principals of
          common law, any such liability having been expressly denied.

                         The Employee acknowledges and agrees that he has
          not, with respect to any transaction or state of facts existing
          prior to the date of this Agreement, filed any complaints,
          charges or lawsuits against any of the Released Parties with any
          governmental agency or any court or tribunal.

                     4.  Press Releases; Confidentiality of Agreement.
                         --------------------------------------------
          Except as may be required by applicable law, the Parties shall
          mutually agree on the form of any press release relating to
          Employee's retirement from the Company.  Other than with respect
          to information provided in any such press release or required to
          be disclosed by court order, the Employee agrees not to disclose
          the terms of this Agreement to any person or entity, other than
          the Employee's immediate family and financial or legal advisors
          who agree to be bound by the confidentiality provisions of this
          Agreement.

                     5.  Return of Company Property.  Employee agrees to
                         --------------------------
          return to the Company all documents, files, and other property of
          any kind belonging to the Company by no later than the Retirement
          Date.

                     6.  Non-Solicitation; Non-Discouragement of Business.
                     
          Until August 21, 2001, Employee shall not, directly or
          indirectly, employ, attempt to employ or solicit for employment,
          any person who currently is an employee of the Company, its
          subsidiaries or affiliates; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the preceding
          clause shall not apply with respect to Employee's two sons,
          Kenneth Martin and Michael Martin. Employee further agrees that,
          until August 21, 2001, he shall not discourage, or attempt to
          discourage, any person, firm, corporation or business entity from
          doing business with the Company or otherwise interfere with the
          business relationships between the Company and any person, firm,
          corporation or other business entity.

                    7.   Non-Disparagement.  Employee agrees that he will
                         -----------------
          not make or publish any disparaging statements (whether written
          or oral) regarding the Company or its subsidiaries,

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          affiliates, directors, officers or employees.  The Company agrees
          that it shall use its best efforts to ensure that its directors and
          officers do not make or publish any disparaging statements
          (whether written or oral) regarding the Employee or any member of
          his immediate family.  Within five (5) days of the date of this
          Agreement, the Company shall inform its officers and directors of
          the Company's obligation under this Section 7.

                    8.   Non-Competition.  By and in consideration of the
                         ---------------
          Retirement Benefits and as an inducement to the Company to enter
          into this Agreement with Employee, Employee agrees that until
          August 21, 2001, Employee shall not directly or indirectly become
          engaged, concerned or interested in or be affiliated with any
          other business (a "Competing Business") competing in any respect
          with any material business of the Company or any of its
          subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
          that nothing contained in this Agreement shall preclude the
          holding (directly or through nominees) for investment of
          securities of any such Competing Business which are listed on any
          recognized securities exchange or are otherwise traded publicly
          so long as not more than one percent (1%) of any issue of such
          securities of any one company shall be so held.  Employee
          acknowledges that the non-competition provisions contained in
          this Agreement are reasonable and necessary, in view of the
          nature of the Company and Employee's knowledge thereof, in order
          to protect the legitimate interests of the Company.

                    9.   Non-Disclosure.  The Parties agree that Employee
                         --------------
          has obtained knowledge of confidential information regarding the
          business and affairs of the Company.  It is therefore agreed that
          Employee shall respect and protect the confidentiality of all
          confidential information pertaining to the Company and its
          subsidiaries, and Employee represents and agrees that he has not
          and will not appropriate for his own use, disclose to any third
          party, or authorize anyone else to disclose, unless authorized by
          the Company in writing, any secret, confidential, proprietary or
          financial information concerning the operations, future plans,
          methods of doing business, or financial condition of the Company
          or its subsidiaries or affiliates, any customer lists, customer
          files or other information relating to the customers of the
          Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, or any lists of the
          Company's shareholders that he obtained as a result of his
          employment with the Company and which is not otherwise publicly
          available (unless it became publicly available in violation of
          this Section 9 or any other agreement of Employee).  This Section
          9 shall not apply to information required to be disclosed by
          court order provided that the Employee shall notify the Company
          prior to the disclosure of any information required to be
          disclosed by court order.

                    10.  Review Period.  The Employee represents that he
                         -------------
          has carefully read and fully understands the terms of this
          Agreement, that he has been given not less than twenty-one (21)
          days to consider this Agreement, that he has been advised to
          seek, and has had the opportunity to seek, the advice and
          assistance of counsel with regard to this Agreement, and that he
          knowingly and voluntarily, of his own free will, without any
          duress, being fully informed and after due deliberate thought and
          action, accepts the terms of and executes the same as his own
          free act.  If Employee executes this Agreement prior to the
          expiration of the twenty-one day period, Employee acknowledges
          that he has done so voluntarily and knowingly.

                    11.  Revocation.  Employee acknowledges and understands
                         ----------
          that this Agreement may be revoked by him within seven (7) days
          of signing it and shall not be effective until the period during
          which Employee may revoke this Agreement has expired without
          Employee having

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          revoked this Agreement.  Revocation shall be made
          by sending a written notice of revocation to Thomas O. Barnes,
          Chairman, at Barnes Group Inc., 123 Main Street, Bristol,
          Connecticut 06011-0489.  For this revocation to be effective,
          written notice must be received no later than the close of
          business of the seventh (7th) day after Employee signs this
          Agreement.  If Employee revokes this Agreement, it shall not be
          effective or enforceable and Employee will not receive or be
          entitled to receive any of the Retirement Benefits provided for
          in this Agreement.  This Agreement shall be final and binding on
          the eighth (8th) day after it has been executed and delivered to
          the Company.

                    12.  Notices.  All notices and communications provided
                         -------
          for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
          have been duly given when personally delivered or sent by
          certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; if to
          Employee, addressed to him at his most recent address as provided
          to the Company in writing, and if to the Company, addressed to
          Thomas O. Barnes, Chairman, at Barnes Group Inc., 123 Main
          Street, Bristol, Connecticut 06011-0489, or to such other address
          as any party may have furnished to any other in accordance
          herewith.  All notices and communications shall be deemed to have
          been received on the date of delivery thereof or on the third
          business day after the mailing thereof, except that notice of
          change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

                    13.   Breach of Representation.  As a further material
                          ------------------------
          inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement, Employee
          agrees that in the event Employee breaches this Agreement or it
          is discovered that any representation made in this Agreement was
          false when made, all further payment or provision of the
          Retirement Benefits, other than the benefit to which Employee
          would be entitled under the SORP and SERP in the absence of this
          Agreement based on his service and compensation through the
          Retirement Date, shall cease.

                    14.  Complete Agreement.  The Parties acknowledge and
                         ------------------
          agree that this Agreement constitutes the complete agreement
          between them and that no oral modification of this Agreement is
          permissible.  The Parties further acknowledge and agree that this
          Agreement and the terms contained herein supersede all previous
          contracts and agreements between the Parties, and that all
          previous contracts and agreements between the Parties, other than
          contracts and agreements under which Employee has a vested right,
          shall become null and void upon execution of this Agreement.

                    15.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in
                         ------------ 
          several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
          original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the
          same instrument.

                    16.  Successors.  This Agreement shall be binding upon
                         ----------
          any and all successors and assigns of Employee and the Company.

                                       - 7 -



                    17.  Governing Law.  Except for issues or matters as to
                         -------------
          which federal law is applicable, this Agreement shall be governed
          by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the
          State of Connecticut without giving effect to the conflicts of
          law principles thereof.

                                        BARNES GROUP INC.

                                            By:   /s/ Thomas O. Barnes
                                                ------------------------
                                                 Thomas O. Barnes
                                                 Chairman

          STATE OF CONNECTICUT )
                               )  SS.
          COUNTY OF HARTFORD   )
                    -----------

                         On this  6  day of  July   , 1998, before me
                                ----       ---------
          personally appeared Thomas O. Barnes, to me known to be the
          person who executed this Agreement and acknowledged that he
          executed the same as his free act and deed.

                         IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand
          and affixed my official seal in the Country and State aforesaid,
          the day and year first above written.



                                                  Notary Public
          My Commission Expires: 06/30/01         /s/ Wilma D. Hart


          By:  /s/ Theodore E. Martin
             --------------------------
                                            Theodore E. Martin

          STATE OF CONNECTICUT )
                               )  SS.
          COUNTY OF HARTFORD   )
                    -----------

                         On this   6  day of   July   , 1998, before me
                                 ----        --------- 
          personally appeared Theodore E. Martin, to me known to be the
          person described in and who executed this Agreement and acknowledged
          that he executed the same as his free act and deed.

                         IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand
          and affixed my official seal in the Country and State aforesaid,
          the day and year first above written.

                                                  Notary Public
          My Commission Expires: 06/30/01         /s/ Wilma D. Hart
          27279.10 (NY04)

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