EXHIBIT 99.1


          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE              Contact:  J.F. Sand, Jr.
          4-2-97                                       (860) 583-7070


              BARNES GROUP STOCKHOLDERS APPROVE AMENDMENT ALLOWING
           3-FOR-1 STOCK SPLIT, ELECT NEW DIRECTOR AT ANNUAL MEETING;
                  EARNINGS MOMENTUM CONTINUING IN FIRST QUARTER

               BRISTOL, CT, April 2 - Stockholders of Barnes Group
          Inc. today approved an amendment to the company's Restated
          Certificate of Incorporation allowing a 3-for-1 stock split
          which had been approved by the Board of Directors on
          February 21.  They also approved the election of Frank E.
          Grzelecki, president and CEO of Handy & Harman, as a
          director, at Barnes Group's annual meeting in Hartford, CT.

               The amendment to the company's charter increases the
          authorized number of Barnes Group common shares to 60
          million from the presently authorized 20 million and reduces
          the par value of common and preferred stock from $1.00 per
          share to $0.01 per share.

               The stock dividend will be paid to stockholders of
          record at the close of business tomorrow (April 3, 1997),
          and is payable on April 25, 1997.  Stockholders will receive
          two new shares of Barnes Group common stock for each share
          of Barnes Group common stock owned as of the record date.

               In his remarks to stockholders, Theodore E. Martin,
          president and chief executive officer of Barnes Group, said
          the stock split signals that the company is doing well and
          that management has confidence in Barnes Group's future
          earnings.  "From the looks of the first quarter, we're off
          to another good start," Martin said, "and we expect 1997 to
          be another record year for the company.  Our goal is to be a
          top-tier performer for the long term."  Barnes Group turned
          in record earnings performances in the past two years, and
          has registered three straight years of strong profit growth.

               Mr. Grzelecki was elected to the board for a one-year
          term to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Juan
          M. Steta, who had served since 1974.  Mr. Steta is counsel
          to the law firm of Santamarina y Steta in Mexico City.  K.
          Grahame Walker, chairman and CEO of the Dexter Corporation,
          whose board term expired at the annual meeting, chose not to
          stand for reelection.

               Stockholders also elected three sitting directors to
          three-year terms expiring in 2000.  They are:  Thomas O.
          Barnes, chairman of the board and senior vice president of
          administration, Barnes Group; Gary G. Benanav, chief
          executive officer, Aeris Ventures, L.L.C., Farmington, CT,
          and Marcel P. Joseph, former chairman of the board and CEO
          of Augat Inc. in Mansfield, MA.  Stockholders also ratified
          the selection of Price Waterhouse LLP as the company's
          independent accountants for 1997.

               Barnes Group Inc. (NYSE:B) is a diversified
          international company based in Bristol, CT.  It is a leading
          manufacturer of precision springs and complex metal
          components for industrial, transportation and aerospace
          markets, and a major distributor of repair and replacement
          products to the maintenance, repair and operating supplies
          (MRO) market.



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