Abstract: An embroidery lace machine has a plurality of mechanisms which can be brought into and out of operation by connection to and disconnection from a main drive shaft using electrically operated coupling devices 33. A single signal generating means (15) generates a reference pulse each time the driving shaft is in a reference rotational position and a train of angular position pulses indicating the rotational displacement of the shaft. Counting means (20) counts the number of angular position pulses following receipt of the reference pulse and generates a timing control signal via a one-shot device (31) and amplifier (32) to actuate each coupling device (33) when the number of angular position pulses counted by the counting means coincides with a respective preset count associated with the respective mechanism.