Abstract: Parting device for severing a traveling elongated material into predetermined lengths, including track means, a tool slide carrying a parting tool and mounted on said track means for traveling thereon in a direction parallel to a path along which the elongated material travels past the parting device, the tool slide being displaceable at a speed in synchronism with that of the traveling elongated material as a predetermined length is being severed from the elongated material by the parting tool and being displaceable back to a starting position after the predetermined length has been severed, control means for initiating the foregoing displacements of the tool slide, reversible, flexibly yielding drive means ever actuatable for the severing operation and capable of imparting a travel speed to the tool slide greater than the synchronized speed without braking the tool slide, a member traveling at a speed continously in synchronism with the travel speed of the elongated material, and over-running clutch means i