SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                   F 0 R M 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 17, 1999


                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    NEW YORK
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)



        0-27618                                    16-0547600   
------------------------                  ---------------------------------   
(Commission File Number)                  (IRS Employer Identification No.)



140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY, AMHERST, NEW YORK          14228-1197
-------------------------------------------------          ----------
(Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)




Registrant's telephone number including area code: (716) 689-5400
                                                   --------------





----------------------------------------------------------------
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


<PAGE>


Item 5.  OTHER EVENTS

                  (a)  The  registrant's  press  release  dated  May  17,  1999,
regarding  its  financial  results  for the fiscal  year ended March 31, 1999 is
attached.

                  (b) On May 17,  1999,  the  registrant's  Board  of  Directors
approved certain amendments to the registrant's  by-laws.  The amendments expand
the notice and record date periods from 50 to 60 days,  as now  permitted  under
New York law, and require advance notice from shareholders who intend to present
an  item of  business  at a  meeting  of  shareholders  (other  than a  proposal
submitted  for  inclusion in the  registrant's  proxy  materials) or to nominate
directors for election.  With respect to an annual  meeting,  shareholders  must
provide  notice to the  registrant no earlier than ninety days and no later than
sixty days prior to the first anniversary of the registrant's  annual meeting of
shareholders  for the preceding  year.  The  registrant's  restated  by-laws are
attached hereto as Exhibit 3.

Item 7.  EXHIBITS


EXHIBIT NUMBER      DESCRIPTION

       3            Restated By-Laws of the Registrant

      99            Press Release dated May 17, 1999







<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.





                                                  COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
                                                   -----------------------------

                                            By:   /S/ ROBERT L. MONTGOMERY, JR.
                                                  -----------------------------
                                            Name:  Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.
                                            Title: Executive Vice President


Dated:  May 17, 1999


<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NUMBER                      DESCRIPTION                          PAGE
--------------                      -----------                          ----

      3                   Restated By-Laws of the Registrant               5
     99                   Press Release dated May 17, 1999                20
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "RESTATED BY-LAWS AND PRESS RELEASE", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3799}]
[{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORP", "cik": "0001005229", "assigned-sic": "3531", "irs-number": "160547600", "state-of-incorporation": "NY", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-27618", "film-number": "99629470"}, "business-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PKWY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "14228-1197", "phone": "7166895400"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "14228-1197"}}, {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "LICO INC", "cik": "0001062619", "assigned-sic": "0000", "irs-number": "431234309", "state-of-incorporation": "MO", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "333-53759-03", "film-number": "99629471"}, "business-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "19228-1197", "phone": "7166895400"}}, {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "LICO STEEL INC", "cik": "0001062622", "assigned-sic": "0000", "state-of-incorporation": "MO", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "333-53759-04", "film-number": "99629472"}, "business-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "19228-1197", "phone": "7166895400"}}, {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "AUTOMATIC SYSTEMS INC", "cik": "0001062623", "assigned-sic": "0000", "irs-number": "430978181", "state-of-incorporation": "MO", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "333-53759-05", "film-number": "99629473"}, "business-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "19228-1197", "phone": "7166895400"}}, {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "YALE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS INC", "cik": "0001062624", "assigned-sic": "0000", "irs-number": "710585582", "state-of-incorporation": "MO", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "333-53759-06", "film-number": "99629474"}, "business-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "19228-1197", "phone": "7166895400"}}]
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                   F 0 R M 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 17, 1999

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    NEW YORK
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

        0-27618                                    16-0547600   
------------------------                  ---------------------------------   
(Commission File Number)                  (IRS Employer Identification No.)

140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY, AMHERST, NEW YORK          14228-1197
-------------------------------------------------          ----------
(Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number including area code: (716) 689-5400
                                                   --------------

----------------------------------------------------------------
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 5.  OTHER EVENTS

                  (a)  The  registrant's  press  release  dated  May  17,  1999,
regarding  its  financial  results  for the fiscal  year ended March 31, 1999 is
attached.

                  (b) On May 17,  1999,  the  registrant's  Board  of  Directors
approved certain amendments to the registrant's  by-laws.  The amendments expand
the notice and record date periods from 50 to 60 days,  as now  permitted  under
New York law, and require advance notice from shareholders who intend to present
an  item of  business  at a  meeting  of  shareholders  (other  than a  proposal
submitted  for  inclusion in the  registrant's  proxy  materials) or to nominate
directors for election.  With respect to an annual  meeting,  shareholders  must
provide  notice to the  registrant no earlier than ninety days and no later than
sixty days prior to the first anniversary of the registrant's  annual meeting of
shareholders  for the preceding  year.  The  registrant's  restated  by-laws are
attached hereto as Exhibit 3.

Item 7.  EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT NUMBER      DESCRIPTION

       3            Restated By-Laws of the Registrant

      99            Press Release dated May 17, 1999
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                                  COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
                                                   -----------------------------

                                            By:   /S/ ROBERT L. MONTGOMERY, JR.
                                                  -----------------------------
                                            Name:  Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.
                                            Title: Executive Vice President

Dated:  May 17, 1999
EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NUMBER                      DESCRIPTION                          PAGE
--------------                      -----------                          ----

      3                   Restated By-Laws of the Registrant               5
     99                   Press Release dated May 17, 1999                20