Exhibit 5



                                        May 28, 1998



          New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
          20 Broad Street
          New York, NY  10005

               Re:  The West Company, Incorporated (the "Company") 
               1998 Key  Employee Incentive Compensation Plan (the "Plan")
               Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
               Statement") 
                 
          Gentlemen:

               This opinion is being delivered in connection with the 
          preparation of the Registration Statement being filed with 
          the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities
          Act of 1993, as amended, relating to the offering of up to
          1,500,000 shares (the "Shares") of its Common Stock, par
          value $0.25 per share, pursuant to the Plan.

               I have examined the Plan and such corporate records and 
          other documents and matters as I have considered appropriate
          to enable me to give this opinion.  Based on the foregoing, it
          is my opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and,
          when issued and sold in accordance with the Plan, will be
          validly issued, fully paid and non-assesable.  I hereby
          consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to
          the Registration Statement.

                              Very truly yours,


                              /s/   John R. Gailey III
                              ------------------------
                              John R. Gailey III

          JRG/cbd