There is disclosed an apparatus for giving a satin finish to the surface of a crowned roll. A plurality of electrode heads are divided and arranged along the axis of rotation of the crowned roll to be worked, and one or a plurality of rectangular electrodes are mounted at a predetermined spacing on each of the electrode heads. The discharge gap of each rectangular electrode is controlled by a servomechanism at a predetermined value and it is also fed traversely a predetermined distance by a traverse feed mechanism. The electrode is rectractably mounted on the electrode head and it is fixed in position so that the discharge surface of the electrode is projected into contact with the roll surface of the crowned roll. The discharge electrode surface of each rectangular electrode is initially flat and this discharge surface is consumed to conform with the shape or contour of the roll surface upon initiation of discharge.