EXHIBIT 23.1


            CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the  incorporation by reference in (a) the Registration  Statement
(Form S-8 No.  333-3212)  pertaining to the Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation 1995
Incentive  Stock Option Plan, the Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Non-Qualified
Stock Option Plan, the Columbus McKinnon  Corporation  Restricted Stock Plan and
the Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Employee Stock  Ownership Plan  Restatement
Effective  April  1,  1989  of  Columbus   McKinnon   Corporation  and  (b)  the
Registration  Statement  (Form  S-8 No.  333-81719)  pertaining  to the  Options
assumed  by  Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  originally  granted  under  the GL
International,  Inc.  1997 Stock Option Plan and the Larco  Industrial  Services
Ltd. 1997 Stock Option Plan of our reports  dated June 6, 2005,  with respect to
the  consolidated   financial  statements  and  schedule  of  Columbus  McKinnon
Corporation  and  subsidiaries,   Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation   management's
assessment of the  effectiveness of internal  control over financial  reporting,
and the  effectiveness of internal control over financial  reporting of Columbus
McKinnon  Corporation  and  subsidiaries,  included in this Annual  Report (Form
10-K) for the year ended March 31, 2005.


                                              /s/ Ernst & Young LLP


June 7, 2005
Buffalo, New York































                                       39