Abstract: A multispindle lathe comprising a rigid, stationary frame, a drum mounted for rotation on the frame, indexing means for indexing the drum relative to the frame about its axis of rotation, a plurality of driven spindles carried by the drum with their axes parallel to and spaced about the axis of rotation of the drum, each spindle being equipped to carry a workpiece, and, a plurality of tool mechanisms carried by the frame and disposed around the axis of the drum for machining workpieces carried by the main spindles, a secondary spindle facing towards said main spindles and having its axis of rotation parallel to the axes of rotation of said main spindles, said secondary spindle being equipped to grip the portion of a workpiece protruding from one of the main spindles, a two axis slide system carried by the frame of the lathe and supporting said secondary spindle whereby said secondary spindle can be moved in directions axially towards and away from, and transversely with respect to the axes of the main spindle