UNITED STATES
                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C. 20549


                                SCHEDULE 13G

                 Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                          (Amendment No.       )*
                                         ------

                             GRIFFON CORPORATION
                     ----------------------------------
                              (Name of Issuer)

                                COMMON STOCK
                     ----------------------------------
                       (Title of Class of Securities)


                                398433102
                     ----------------------------------
                              (CUSIP Number)

   Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement / /. (A 
fee is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous statement 
on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the class 
of securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent 
thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such 
class.) (See Rule 13d-7).

   *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting 
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of 
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which 
would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

   The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be 
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section 
of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, 
see the Notes).



                              Page 1 of  2  pages




CUSIP No. 398433102                    13G                Page  2  of  2  Pages
          ---------                                            ---    --- 

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (1) Name of Reporting Person
     S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person

     U.S. TRUST CO. OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.
     GRIFFON CORPORATION EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN & TRUST
     TAX ID #11-1893410
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group*    (a)  / /
                                                          (b)  / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (3) SEC Use Only

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (4) Citizenship or Place of Organization

     515 S. Flower St. #2800
     Los Angeles, CA 90017
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Shares              (5) Sole Voting Power
 Beneficially                       
 Owned by                           40,000
 Each Reporting              --------------------------------------------------
 Person With                  (6) Shared Voting Power

                                    2,372,056
                             --------------------------------------------------
                              (7) Sole Dispositive Power

                                    2,412,056

                             --------------------------------------------------
                              (8) Shared Dispositive Power

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

                2,412,056
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares*

                  /  /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

                   8.3%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) Type of Reporting Person*


                   E.P.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!


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