<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS AS OF  DECEMBER 29, 1996 AND
FOR THE THREE  MONTH  PERIOD  THEN ENDED AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                      0001005229   
<NAME>                  COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION        
<MULTIPLIER>                                         1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-29-1996
<CASH>                                              12,751
<SECURITIES>                                             0     
<RECEIVABLES>                                       68,504
<ALLOWANCES>                                             0
<INVENTORY>                                         94,606
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   196,528
<PP&E>                                              79,365
<DEPRECIATION>                                      19,890
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     499,471
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               79,128
<BONDS>                                                  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               137
<OTHER-SE>                                         146,550
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       499,471
<SALES>                                            103,393
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   103,393
<CGS>                                               73,289
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       73,289
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    18,864
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   4,819
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      6,912
<INCOME-TAX>                                         3,370
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  3,219
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     (3,101)
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                           118
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          .01
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          .01