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                         HARNISCHFEGER INDUSTRIES, INC.
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

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                 [LETTERHEAD OF HARNISCHFEGER INDUSTRIES, INC.]

                                                                  May 7, 1999

DEAR FELLOW SHAREHOLDER:

Enclosed is a Consent Revocation Statement and Yellow Revocation of Consent Card
in conncetion with the Board's opposition to the solicitation of consents by the
Trinity Group.  The Board carefully  considered each of Trinity's  proposals and
determined that it was in the best interest of the Company and its  shareholders
to amend the by-laws of the Company in a way that addresses each of the concerns
raised by the  Trinity  proposals  adopted  by the  Board.  The few  differences
between the amendments  adopted by the Board and the Trinity proposals have been
carfully   considered  by  the  Board  and  in  the  Board's  opinion  they  are
appropriate,  reasonable and in the bests interests of shareholders.  The by-law
amendments  adopted  by the  Board,  which  are  described  in the  accompanying
materials, provide, among other things:

o    shareholders with the  opportunity to approve certain  significant business
     transactions of Harnischfeger and its subsidiaries;

o    for  the  Corporate  Governance  Committee  to  consider at  least annually
     whether  or  not  the Chairman of the Board  should  be  a  past or present
     employee of the company; and

o    shareholders holding  25% of Harnischfeger's outstanding common stock  with
     the ability to  call a meeting between all shareholders  of the Company and
     non-management directors.

The Board  attempted to arrange a meeting with the Trinity Group in an effort to
resolve the issues  raised by their  proposals  but the Trinity Group refused to
meet. The Board believes that the Trinity  solicitation will distract  attention
and energy from the process the  Company has  initiated  with Chase  Securities,
Inc. to explore alternatives to enhance shareholder value.

ACCORDINGLY,   THE  BOARD  RECOMMENDS  THAT  SHAREHOLDERS   OPPOSE  THE  CONSENT
SOLICITATION BEING UNDERTAKEN BY THE TRINITY GROUP. THE BOARD URGES SHAREHOLDERS
TO REJECT THE TRINITY CONSENT  SOLICITATION AND NOT SIGN ANY WHITE CONSENT CARDS
SENT TO YOU BY THE TRINITY GROUP. IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY SIGNED AND RETURNED ANY
SUCH CONSENT CARD, YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO CHANGE YOUR MIND.

The Board urges you to sign,  date and mail the enclosed  YELLOW  Revocation  of
Consent Card in the postage-paid envelope provided with these materials.

We appreciate your support.

On behalf of the board of directors,

/s/ Jeffery T. Grade                              /s/ L. Donald LaTorre

JEFFERY T. GRADE                                  L. DONALD LA TORRE
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer              Chairman, Corproate Governance
                                                  Committee