A winding machine, comprises a machine frame, a winding mandrel which is connected with the machine frame during winding, traversing device including two belt runs movable near one another in opposite directions and provided with drivers, diverters each arranged at a respective one of reversing points of the traversing device and displaceable parallel to a winding axis, a sensing element abutting against a surface of a coil which is being wound, and a transmitting device which couples the diverters with the sensing element, the transmitting device including at least one displacing rod which connects the diverters with one another and extends parallel to the winding axis, a guiding rail with which the displacing rod is in engagement, the guiding rail and the traversing device being formed so that they are displaceable in correspondence with movement of the sensing element relative to one another at a right angle relative to the winding axis.