A workpiece holding apparatus for spindle finishing machines and the like, the apparatus including a plurality of radially arranged workpiece holders mounted for rotation about a first axis and including cooperating gear elements for rotating each of the holders about its respective longitudinal axis in response to rotation of the entire assemblage of holders about the first mentioned axis; a cam arrangement is provided whereby each of the holders may be actuated between a first condition securing workpieces on the holders and a second condition permitting workpieces to be removed, such as after a finishing operation has been completed.