Abstract: Two universal joint shafts for driving a pair of working shafts of a strip-treating stand are arranged one over the other and adapted to be shortened so as to be uncoupled from said working shafts. For a replacement of one or both working shafts, the unversal joint shafts which are uncoupled from the working shafts and are supported by respective seating structures, which are adjustable in height. To enable an automatic coupling of the universal joint shafts to the working shaft and to permit of the use of interchangeable strip-treating stands, which can only be lifted, the seating structures comprise upwardly facing bearing surfaces, which are adapted to support and to clear said universal joint shafts. Said seating structures are mounted in a carrier, which is adjustable in height and carries also means for adjusting said bearing surfaces in height relative to said carrier only by equal distances in opposite directions.