Abstract: A length of filament, such as wire or optical fiber, is loosely coiled on a flat carrier, in the form of a figure of eight coil, the lobes of which are laid respectively in clockwise and anticlockwise directions, by feeding the filament downwards through a gimbal mounted guide member attached to reciprocating means whereby the guide member is oscillated about two horizontal axes at right angles, corresponding to the transverse and longitudinal axes of the figure of eight coil produced. The guide member preferably incorporates a compressed air injection gun, to assist in maintaining the downward travel of the filament at a desired constant speed, the relationship between the filament travel speed and the oscillation frequencies being controlled to produce a figure of eight coil of a desired size.