Abstract: A tension control unit for filamentous material applies a stable tension to filamentous material and is useful to adjust the tension easily at a low cost. The control unit supplies filamentous material from a supply source to a coil winding device while applying a given tension to it via a primary tension pulley to which damping torque is applied and a secondary tension pulley arranged at a swinging end of a tension bar biased in a direction to apply tension. The control unit includes a damping torque generator for applying damping torque to the primary tension pulley in the form of a magnetic disk which rotates integrally with the primary tension pulley and permanent magnets arranged at a given distance at least from a surface of the magnetic disk. The control further includes a stationary torque setting apparatus for setting the damping torque in a steady state by moving the permanent magnets in a radial direction of the magnetic disk.