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 25, 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

     On May 25, 1999, the registrant  instituted litigation in the United States
District  Court  for the  Southern  District  of New York  against  Metropolitan
Capital Advisors, Inc., Metropolitan Capital III, Inc., Bedford Falls Investors,
L.P.,  Metropolitan Capital Advisors International Limited,  Jeffrey E. Schwarz,
Karen Finerman,  Scoggin, Inc., Scoggin Capital Management,  L.P., Scoggin, LLC,
Scoggin International Fund, Ltd., Curtis Schenker, Craig Effron, Lakeway Capital
Partners,  LLC, Yaupon  Partners,  L.P.,  Yaupon Partners II, L.P. and Robert F.
Lietzow,  Jr. A copy of the  complaint in  connection  with such  litigation  is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.



Item 7.  Exhibits


Exhibit Number      Description


     99             Complaint







<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 26, 1999


<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number                      Description                          Page


         99                Complaint                                      5
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "COMPLAINT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3031}]
[{"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": "99635365"}, "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": "99635366"}, "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": "99635367"}, "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": "99635368"}, "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": "99635369"}, "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 25, 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

     On May 25, 1999, the registrant  instituted litigation in the United States
District  Court  for the  Southern  District  of New York  against  Metropolitan
Capital Advisors, Inc., Metropolitan Capital III, Inc., Bedford Falls Investors,
L.P.,  Metropolitan Capital Advisors International Limited,  Jeffrey E. Schwarz,
Karen Finerman,  Scoggin, Inc., Scoggin Capital Management,  L.P., Scoggin, LLC,
Scoggin International Fund, Ltd., Curtis Schenker, Craig Effron, Lakeway Capital
Partners,  LLC, Yaupon  Partners,  L.P.,  Yaupon Partners II, L.P. and Robert F.
Lietzow,  Jr. A copy of the  complaint in  connection  with such  litigation  is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.

Item 7.  Exhibits

Exhibit Number      Description

     99             Complaint
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 26, 1999
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number                      Description                          Page

         99                Complaint                                      5