<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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 APR-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-28-1998
<CASH>                                               4,548
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      131,909
<ALLOWANCES>                                         2,430
<INVENTORY>                                        105,566
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   279,199
<PP&E>                                             114,779
<DEPRECIATION>                                      33,720
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     757,937
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               94,678
<BONDS>                                            446,868
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               137
<OTHER-SE>                                         171,990
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       757,937
<SALES>                                            170,503
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   170,503
<CGS>                                              127,049
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      127,049
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    23,136
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   8,618
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     12,072
<INCOME-TAX>                                         5,989
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  6,083
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                         6,083
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          .45
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          .45