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                                                                   Exhibit 10.26


MAKER: Donald Mallo
PAYEE: Grove Worldwide LLC

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

$50,000                                                         October 27, 1998

            FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Donald Mallo ("Maker") promises to pay to the
order of Grove Worldwide LLC (collectively with all subsequent holders of this
Note, "Payee"), at 1565 Buchanan Trail East. P.O. Box 21, Shady Grove,
Pennsylvania 17256-0021, or at such other address or addresses as payee may
from time to time designate in writing, in lawful money of the United States of
America, an amount equal to Fifty Thousand dollars ($50,000) (the "Principal
Amount"), together with interest on the unpaid Principal Amount owing hereunder
from time to time at the rate per annum equal to the lesser of (1) or (2) below:

            (1) a varying rate per annum equal to the prevailing designated
prime or base rate of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., or its successor, as published or
announced by such bank from time to time (the "Prime Rate"), with adjustments in
such varying rate to be made on the same date as any change in the Prime Rate
(the "Applicable Rate"); or

            (2) the maximum lawful rate (the "Maximum Rate") which may be
contracted for, charged, taken, received, or reserved by Payee in accordance
with New York law from time to time in effect except to the extent federal law
permits Payee to contract for, charge, take, receive, or reserve a greater
amount of interest, due credit being given for all charges made in connection
with the loan evidenced hereby that may be treated as interest under applicable
law.

            Interest will be based on a 365-day year.

            Notwithstanding anything in this Note to the contrary, if at any
time the Applicable Rate, together with all fees and charges, if any, contracted
for, charged, received, taken, or reserved by Payee in connection with the loan
evidenced hereby that may be treated as interest under applicable law
(collectively, the "Charges"), computed over the full term of this Note, exceeds
the Maximum Rate, then the rate of interest payable hereunder, together with all
Charges, will be limited to the Maximum Rate. If, however, the Maximum Rate from
time to time subsequently increases, then the interest charged on the unpaid
Principal Amount will remain equal to the Maximum Rate, and any subsequent
reduction in the Applicable Rate will not reduce the rate borne by this Note,
until the total amount of interest earned hereunder, together with all Charges,
equals the total amount of interest that would have accrued at the Applicable
Rate if the Applicable Rate had at all times been in effect. Moreover, if at
maturity or final payment of this Note the total amount of interest paid or
accrued under the foregoing provisions is less than the total amount of interest
that would have accrued if the Applicable Rate had at all times been in effect,
Maker agrees to pay to Payee, to the
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extent allowed by then-applicable law, an amount equal to the difference between
(a) the lesser of (i) the amount of interest that would have been accrued on
this Note if the Maximum Rate had at all times been in effect, and (ii) the
amount of interest that would have accrued if the Applicable Rate had at all
times been in effect, and (b) the amount of interest actually accrued under this
Note.

            This Note evidences the loan, between the Maker and the Payee for
the purchase by Maker of a membership interest (the "Equity") in Grove Investors
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Investors"). So much of the
Principal Amount as is required for Maker's purchase of the Equity shall be
advanced by Payee directly to Investors, which will sell the Equity to Maker in
an amount that corresponds to Payee's advance. Maker authorizes and directs
Payee to make the advance to Investors and further authorizes Investors to
evidence the sale of the Equity in such manner with respect to the advance made
by Payee under this Note. Such advance will be deemed to have been received by
Maker upon Maker's receipt of the Equity and thereafter paid to Investors as the
purchase price for the Equity.

            This Note is secured by Maker's pledge of: (i) Maker's membership
interest in Investors (the "Pledged Equity"), as more fully set forth in that
certain Pledge Agreement (the "Pledge Agreement") dated as of the date hereof by
and between Maker and Payee: and (ii) such other assets or documents as are at
any time given as security for or relating to this Note (the Pledge Agreement
and all other security documents are collectively referred to as the "Security
Instruments," and the Pledged Equity and any other assets that are at any time
pledged as security for this Note are collectively referred to as the
"Collateral").

            This Note is due and payable as follows:

            (A) At the time of, and to the extent of the after-tax proceeds of,
all distributions respecting and proceeds and payments on, from, or in
connection with the Collateral and any other amounts to which Maker becomes
entitled with respect to the Collateral (such amounts to be paid to Payee as
provided below). For this purpose, after-tax proceeds shall be computed by
taking into account income taxes attributable to Maker's ownership or
disposition of the Collateral (including income tax liability attributable to
Maker's distributive share of taxable income of Investors) and by assuming that
Maker will pay taxes at the maximum federal income tax rate and the maximum
state income tax rate for the state in which the Pledgor pays income taxes with
respect to such ownership or disposition of the Collateral, taking into account
the deductibility of state income taxes for federal income tax purposes.

            (B) At the time of and to the extent of (i) proceeds from Investors'
redemption of the Pledged Equity (such amounts to be paid to Payee as provided
below) and (ii) other proceeds arising out of the sale or other disposition of
all or any portion of the Pledged Equity.
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            (C) If a bonus is payable under the Short Term Incentive Plan to the
Maker in a year, fifty percent of the after tax proceeds of such bonus
calculated at the highest marginal tax rate applicable to the Maker is due.

            (D) Unless sooner paid under this Note, any unpaid Principal Amount
and all unpaid interest accrued thereon is finally due and payable on the first
anniversary of the date hereof.

            Maker hereby acknowledges that, except as expressly provided above,
all distributions, redemptions and other payments in respect of the Collateral
payable by Investors to Maker will be paid directly to Payee as payments under
this Note. Maker hereby directs and authorizes Investors to pay the foregoing
amounts directly to Payee to be applied against this Note. By signing below
Investors agrees to make all such payments directly to Payee unless otherwise
notified in writing to the contrary by Payee. The parties hereto acknowledge and
agree that such amounts will be deemed to have been distributed to Maker and
thereafter paid by Maker to Payee as payment under this Note.

            Time is of the essence in this Note.

            If Maker does not pay this Note as and when due to Payee, then this
Note will bear interest until paid at the Default Rate (as defined below).

            Maker may at any time prepay all or from time to time any portion of
this Note without premium or penalty upon at least two days written notice to
the Payee. All payments on this Note will, at the option of Payee, be applied
first to pay unpaid accrued interest and any remainder will be applied to reduce
the Principal Amount.

            Except as otherwise specifically provided, Maker: (i) waives grace,
presentment and demand for payment, protest and notice of protest, notice of
intent to accelerate maturity, notice of acceleration of maturity, notice of
nonpayment, and all other notices of any nature, filing of suit, and diligence
in collecting this Note or enforcing any of the Collateral for it; (ii) agrees
that the amount due hereunder must be paid without set-off, counterclaim,
abatement, suspension or diminution; and (iii) agrees that Payee will not be
required first to file suit or exhaust its remedies against Maker, any
guarantor, or others liable or to become liable on this Note to enforce payment
of this Note. No extension or postponement of time for paying this Note or any
installment hereof affects the liability of Maker under this Note.

            Any of the following is a "Default" under this Note:

            (a) Maker fails to perform or observe any provision of this Note,
      the Pledge Agreement, or any other Security Instrument.

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            (b) Maker commences a voluntary case under Title 11 of the United
      States Code as from time to time in effect (the "Bankruptcy Code").

            (c) Maker seeks relief as a debtor under any applicable law, other
      than the Bankruptcy Code, of any jurisdiction relating to the liquidation
      or reorganization of debtors or to the modification or alteration of the
      rights of creditors, or consents to or acquiesces in such relief.

            (d) Maker has entered against him any order by a court of competent
      jurisdiction finding him to be bankrupt or insolvent, or assuming custody
      of, or appointing a receiver or other custodian for, all or a substantial
      part of his property.

            (e) Maker makes an assignment for the benefit of, or enters into a
      composition with, his creditors, or appoints or consents to the
      appointment of a receiver or other custodian for all or a substantial part
      of his property.

            (f) A court having jurisdiction enters a decree or order for relief
      in respect of Maker in an involuntary case under the Bankruptcy Code or
      under any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or
      hereafter in effect, which decree or order is not stayed; or any other
      similar relief is granted under any applicable federal or state law.

            (g) An involuntary case is commenced against Maker under the
      Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or
      similar law now or hereafter in effect; or a decree or order of a court
      having jurisdiction for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator,
      sequestrator, trustee, custodian, or other officer having similar powers
      over Maker, or over all or a substantial part of his property, has been
      entered; or the involuntary appointment of an interim receiver, trustee,
      or other custodian of Maker for all or a substantial part of his property
      has occurred; or a warrant of attachment, execution, or similar process
      has been issued against any substantial part of Maker's property, and any
      such event described in this clause (g) continues for 60 days unless
      dismissed, bonded or discharged.

            If a Default occurs, then and in each and every such case the unpaid
Principal Amount and all accrued interest will automatically become due and
payable without presentation, presentment, protest, or further demand or notice
of any kind, all of which Maker expressly waives. Payee may proceed to enforce
payment of all or part of such amount in a commercially reasonable manner. Payee
will also be entitled to exercise any and all other rights, remedies, and
recourses now or later existing in equity or at law. All remedies under this
Note and the Security Instruments are cumulative, not exclusive.
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            Upon Default under this Note, or under any of the Security
Instruments, at Payee's option all amounts then due and payable under this Note
or the Security Instruments will bear interest from the date the Default occurs
at a rate of interest per annum (the "Default Rate") equal to the lesser of (a)
4% dyer the Applicable Rate, and (b) the Maximum Rate.

            Maker agrees to pay all costs of collection hereof when incurred,
including reasonable attorneys' fees of the Payee, whether or not any action is
instituted to enforce this Note.

            Maker and Payee at all times intend to comply with the applicable
law now or hereafter governing the terms of this Note and the interest payable
on this Note. If the applicable law is ever revised, repealed, or judicially
interpreted so as to render any provision of this Note invalid, or so as to
render usurious any amount called for under this Note or under any of the
Security Instruments or contracted for, charged, taken, reserved, or received
with respect to the loan evidenced by this Note, or if Payee's exercise of its
rights to accelerate the maturity of this Note, or if any prepayment by Maker
results in Maker's having paid any interest in excess of that permitted by law,
then it is Maker's and Payee's express intent that all excess amounts previously
collected by Payee be credited on the Principal Amount of this Note (or, if the
Note has been paid in full, refunded to Maker). This Note and the Security
Instruments immediately will then be deemed reformed and the amounts later
collectible hereunder and thereunder reduced without the need to execute any new
document, so as to comply with the then-applicable law, but so as to permit the
recovery of the greatest amount otherwise called for hereunder and thereunder.

            All sums paid or agreed to be paid to Payee for the use,
forbearance, or detention of this indebtedness evidenced by this note will, to
the extent permitted by applicable law, be amortized, prorated, allocated, and
spread throughout the full term of this Note until paid in full so that the rate
or amount of interest on account of such indebtedness does not exceed the
applicable usury ceiling for so long as any amount is outstanding.

            THIS NOTE MUST BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED ACCORDING TO NEW YORK
LAW EXCEPT AS APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAW PERMITS PAYEE TO CONTRACT FOR, CHARGE,
TAKE, RECEIVE, OR RESERVE A GREATER AMOUNT OF INTEREST.

            Any suit, action, proceeding, controversy or claim arising out of or
relating to this Note or a Default must be brought in a court of appropriate
jurisdiction in New York City, New York. Maker hereby submits and consents to
the jurisdiction of such court for any such suit, action or proceeding and
irrevocably waives: (i) any objection that he now has or may later have to the
venue of such court, and (ii) any objection that any such suit, action, or
proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
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            THIS PROMISSORY NOTE REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR
SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES, THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL
AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

            Maker has duly executed this Note effective as of the date first
above written.

                                          "MAKER"

                                          /s/ Donald Mallo
                                          ------------------------------------
                                          DONALD MALLO


                                          "PAYEE"

                                          GROVE WORLDWIDE LLC

                                          By: /s/ Salvatore J. Bonanno
                                              --------------------------------
                                              Name:  Salvatore J. Bonanno
                                              Title: Chief Executive Officer

                                              (Payee's signature is added solely
                                              to acknowledge the statement in
                                              the next to the last paragraph
                                              above that this is the final
                                              written agreement between the
                                              parties.)

Acknowledged and agreed to for the 
limited purposes stated herein by:

GROVE INVESTORS LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company

By: /s/ Salvatore J. Bonanno
    -------------------------------------
    Name:  Salvatore J. Bonanno
    Title: Chief Executive Officer