Exhibit 5.1




                       [Baker & Hostetler LLP LETTERHEAD]

                                  May 17, 2001

Stoneridge, Inc.
9400 East Market Street
Warren, Ohio 44484

            Re:   Registration Statement on Form S-4 with respect to
                  $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount 11 1/2% Senior
                  Notes due 2012 of Stoneridge, Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

            We have acted as counsel for Stoneridge, Inc., an Ohio corporation
(the "Issuer"), Stoneridge Electronics, Inc., a Texas corporation ("SEI"), and
Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation ("SCD"), in
connection with (i) the offer to exchange (the "Exchange Offer") up to
$200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer's 11 1/2% Senior Notes due
2012 (the "Exchange Notes") for its $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount 11
1/2% Senior Notes due 2012 (the "Original Notes") that are presently outstanding
and (ii) the preparation of the registration statement on Form S-4 (the
"Registration Statement") filed on May 17, 2002 with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by the Issuer, SEI and SCD for the purpose of registering the
Exchange Notes and certain guarantees under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"). The Original Notes have been, and the Exchange Notes will
be, issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of May 1, 2002 (the "Indenture"),
among the Issuer, SEI and SCD and Fifth Third Bank, as Trustee. The Exchange
Notes will have the benefit of the guarantees of SEI and SCD ("Guarantees")
provided for in the Indenture.

            In connection with the foregoing, we have examined such records of
the Issuer, SEI and SCD and such other documents as we deem necessary to render
this opinion.

            Based on such examination, we are of the opinion that:

            (a) when the Exchange Notes, substantially in the form as set forth
in an exhibit to the Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration
Statement, have been duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the
Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and duly delivered in exchange for the
Original Notes in accordance with the Exchange Offer in the manner described in
the Registration Statement, the Exchange Notes will be valid and binding
obligations of the Issuer and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture;
and



            (b) when the Exchange Notes have been duly executed by the Issuer
and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and duly
delivered in exchange for the Original Notes in accordance with the Exchange
Offer in the manner described in the Registration Statement, the Guaranty of
each of SEI and SCD will be the valid and binding obligation of each of SEI and
SCD, respectively.

            We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to
the Registration Statement and the reference to us under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the prospectus that is a part of the Registration Statement.

                                             Sincerely,

                                            /s/ Baker & Hostetler LLP