Exhibit 5.1

                                 May 19, 1998


American Locker Group Incorporated
608 Allen Street
Jamestown, New York  14702-1000

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      We  are  counsel  to  American  Locker  Group  Incorporated,   a  Delaware
corporation (the "Registrant") and we have acted as counsel to the Registrant in
connection  with  the  Registrant's  Registration  Statement  on Form  S-8  (the
"Registration  Statement").  The Registration  Statement is to be filed with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission and relates to the  registration  under the
Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended,  of an  aggregate  of 37,250  shares (the
"Shares")  of the  Registrant's  Common  Stock,  par value  $1.00 per share,  in
connection with the American Locker Group Incorporated 1988 Stock Incentive Plan
(the "Plan").

      We are familiar with the Registration  Statement and the Plan, and we have
examined the  Registrant's  Certificate of  Incorporation  and the  Registrant's
By-Laws.  We have also  examined  such  other  public and  corporate  documents,
certificates,  instruments and corporate records,  and such questions of law, as
we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of this opinion.

      Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when issued
in accordance with the Plan, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable.

      We hereby  consent  to the filing of this  opinion  as Exhibit  5.1 to the
Registration Statement.

                                          Yours truly,

                                          /s/ Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP