Abstract: Apparatus for winding cable on a cable drum comprises two telescopic vertical stands mounted on under carriages and connected at their upper ends by a telescopic traverse. A first slide movable vertically by an electric motor on an vertical guideway on the upper part of each of the stands has an inclined guideway on which a second slide having a spindle for insertion into a central opening of a cable drum is slidable. In their lower positions the second slides are supported by support provided on the upper parts of the stands and, while thus supported, the second slides with their spindles are movable horizontally by vertical movement of the first slides so as to bring the spindles into alignment with central openings of a cable drum. Vertical movement of the spindles is effected by telescopic movement of the stands.