Abstract: A bar holder and feeder for an automatic machine tool comprising an elongated bar holder aligned with the machine tool, which bar holder can be opened to allow bar to be loaded thereinto; loading means to load bar into a loaded position in the bar holder; and a bar feeder positioned between the elongated bar holder and the machine tool, through an open collet of which machine tool bar is to be fed from the bar holder, the bar feeder comprising a sleeve engageable over a bar to be fed at a position externally of the machine tool and feed means to cause axial movement of the sleeve, the sleeve having internal biased gripping means which permit the sleeve to be moved by the feed means over the bar in a direction away from the machine tool but prevent the sleeve being moved by the feed means over the bar in a direction towards the machine tool, whereby a reciprocation of the sleeve by the feed means causes the bar to be fed to the machine tool, and means to prevent movement of the bar from the loaded position in