<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>

     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED
FROM SEC
FORM 10-Q AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO SUCH
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                      0001005229
<NAME>                  COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              MAR-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 APR-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-28-1997
<CASH>                                               5,883
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       79,726
<ALLOWANCES>                                             0
<INVENTORY>                                         95,999
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   198,787
<PP&E>                                              92,522
<DEPRECIATION>                                      29,033
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     535,025
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               86,331
<BONDS>                                                  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               137
<OTHER-SE>                                         163,473
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       535,025
<SALES>                                            372,442
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   372,442
<CGS>                                              265,990
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      265,990
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    59,026
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  17,729
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     30,773
<INCOME-TAX>                                        15,227
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 15,546
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        15,546
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         1.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         1.16