SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM 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): JANUARY 20, 2004
                                                         ----------------


                          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 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(c) Exhibits.


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

99.1                    Press Release dated January 20, 2004


Item 12.  RESULTS OF OPERATION AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

         On January 20, 2004, the registrant  issued a press release  announcing
financial  results for the third  quarter of fiscal 2004.  The press  release is
annexed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. This  information is
being furnished pursuant under Item 12 of Form 8-K.

         The  information  contained  in this Form 8-K and the  Exhibit  annexed
hereto shall not be deemed  "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,  nor  shall it be  deemed  incorporated  by
reference into any filing under the  Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  except
as shall be expressly set forth in such filing.


<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 thereunto duly authorized.





                                      COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION


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


Dated:  JANUARY 20, 2004
        ----------------


<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


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

     99.1                       Press Release dated January 20, 2004
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "q304er.txt", "description": "THIRD QUARTER FISCAL 2004 EARNINGS RELEASE", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3443}]
[{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "AUDUBON WEST INC", "cik": "0001062623", "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": "04534738"}, "business-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "19228-1197", "phone": "7166895400"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "AUTOMATIC SYSTEMS INC", "date-changed": "19980527"}}, {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "YALE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS INC", "cik": "0001062624", "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": "04534737"}, "business-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "19228-1197", "phone": "7166895400"}}, {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CRANE EQUIPMENT & SERVICE INC", "cik": "0001263400", "irs-number": "731515437", "state-of-incorporation": "OK", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "333-109730-02", "film-number": "04534736"}, "business-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "14428", "phone": "7166895405"}}, {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "AUDUBON EUROPE S A R L", "cik": "0001263401", "irs-number": "421542436", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "333-109730-04", "film-number": "04534735"}, "business-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "14428", "phone": "7166895405"}}, {"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": "04534734"}, "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"}}]
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM 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): JANUARY 20, 2004
                                                         ----------------

                          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 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(c) Exhibits.

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

99.1                    Press Release dated January 20, 2004

Item 12.  RESULTS OF OPERATION AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

         On January 20, 2004, the registrant  issued a press release  announcing
financial  results for the third  quarter of fiscal 2004.  The press  release is
annexed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. This  information is
being furnished pursuant under Item 12 of Form 8-K.

         The  information  contained  in this Form 8-K and the  Exhibit  annexed
hereto shall not be deemed  "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,  nor  shall it be  deemed  incorporated  by
reference into any filing under the  Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  except
as shall be expressly set forth in such filing.
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 thereunto duly authorized.

                                      COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION

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

Dated:  JANUARY 20, 2004
        ----------------
EXHIBIT INDEX

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

     99.1                       Press Release dated January 20, 2004