EXHIBIT 10(A)
                        1999 FIFTH AMENDMENT AGREEMENT TO
         $37,000,000 AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT AND TERM NOTE


         THIS AMENDMENT AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of this 29th day of
October, 1999, by and between SPEIZMAN INDUSTRIES, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Borrower"), WINK DAVIS EQUIPMENT CO., INC., a Georgia corporation ("WD"),
TODD MOTION CONTROLS, INC., a North Carolina corporation ("TMC") and BANK OF
AMERICA, N.A. d/b/a NATIONSBANK, N.A., successor to NATIONSBANK, N.A., a
national banking association (the "Lender");


                              W I T N E S S E T H:
                               -------------------


         WHEREAS, pursuant to the $37,000,000 Amended and Restated Loan
Agreement dated as of July 31, 1997 between Borrower and Lender, as amended by
1998 First Amendment Agreement thereto dated as of February 6, 1998, 1998 Second
Amendment Agreement dated as of December 30, 1998, 1999 First Amendment
Agreement thereto dated as of May 17, 1999, 1999 Second Amendment Agreement
thereto dated as of August 27, 1999, and 1999 Third Amendment Agreement thereto
dated as of September 27, 1999, and 1999 Fourth Amendment Agreement thereto
dated as of September 30, 1999, among the Borrower, WD, TMC and the Lender
(collectively the "Loan Agreement"), arrangements were made for the extension by
the Lender to the Borrower of credit on the terms and conditions set forth in
such Loan Agreement;

         WHEREAS, under the Loan Agreement, the Borrower obtained a Credit
Facility in the maximum aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding of up
to $37,000,000, of which (i) up to $30,000,000 may be allocated under a "Letter
of Credit Facility" for the issuance of documentary Letters of Credit to support
the Borrower's purchase and importing of (x) presold textile machinery in the
ordinary course of its business and (y) in certain cases, equipment to be held
as inventory for sale and, within such $30,000,000, up to $8,500,000, as
temporarily increased to $11,500,000, may be allocated to borrowings for the
Borrower's short term operating needs under a Revolving Line of Credit, and up
to $500,000 may be allocated for the issuance of Standby Letters of Credit, as
provided in such Loan Agreement, and (ii) up to $7,000,000, as subsequently
increased to $8,050,000 by Note Modification Agreement dated February 6, 1998,
may be allocated as a term loan, all upon the terms and conditions provided in
the Loan Agreement;

         WHEREAS, under the Loan Agreement, the Borrower has issued to the
Lender its Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Note dated July 31, 1997 in the
principal amount of $8,500,000 (the "Revolving Credit Note"), as modified by
Note Modification Agreement dated August 27, 1999 and Note Modification
Agreement dated September 27, 1999;

         WHEREAS, under the Loan Agreement, the Borrower has issued to the
Lender its Term Note dated July 31, 1997 in the original principal amount of
$7,000,000, as subsequently

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increased to $8,050,000 by Note Modification Agreement dated February 6, 1998
(the "Term Note");

         WHEREAS, collateral for the indebtedness and obligations of the
Borrower in respect of the Loan Agreement, the Revolving Credit Note and the
Letter of Credit Facility is provided under the Amended and Restated Security
Agreement dated July 31, 1997 between the Borrower, WD and the Lender and a
Security Agreement dated as of February 6, 1998 between TMC and the Lender
(collectively, the "Security Agreement");

         WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lender agree to certain
modifications to the Loan Agreement;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
and conditions herein set forth, it is hereby agreed as follows:

         1. Terms. All terms used herein without definition, unless the context
clearly requires otherwise, shall have the meanings provided therefor in the
Loan Agreement.

         2. Amendment to Loan Agreement.

                  (A) Section 1.12 of the Loan Agreement (entitled "Borrowing
         Base") is rewritten to read as follows:

                           "1.12. "Borrowing Base" means the sum as of the date
                  of determination of (i) Eligible Accounts multiplied by 80%
                  and (ii) Eligible Inventory multiplied by 30%, and (iii) L/C
                  Credit multiplied by 50%, and (iv) Cash Collateral multiplied
                  by 100% and (v) if such date of determination occurs between
                  the period August 12, 1999 and December 15, 1999, $2,000,000,
                  all determined pursuant to the Borrowing Base Certificate."

                  (B) Section 2.4(b)(iv) of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended
         to read as follows:

                           "(iv) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committed
                  Amount shall be $10,000,000 during the period August 12, 1999
                  to September 17, 1999 and $11,500,000 during the period
                  September 18, 1999 to December 15, 1999, subject to such
                  permanent reductions as may be required hereunder during such
                  period. At December 16, 1999 and thereafter, the Committed
                  Amount shall be permanently reduced to $6,000,000, less any
                  other permanent reductions which may otherwise be required
                  hereunder."

         3. Representations and Warranties. Each of the Borrower, WD and TMC
hereby jointly and severally represents and warrants that:

                  (A) The representations and warranties contained in Article V
         of the Loan Agreement are hereby made by the Borrower on and as of the
         date hereof except the


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         representations of Sections 5.3 and 5.4 shall refer to the most recent
         financial statements delivered under Section 7.1 of the Loan Agreement.

                  (B) There has been no material change, and there exists no
         known prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, of
         the Borrower, WD or TMC since the date of the most recent financial
         reports received by the Lender, other than changes in the ordinary
         course of business, none of which has been a materially adverse change;

                  (C) The business and properties of the Borrower, WD or TMC are
         not, and since the date of the most recent financial reports thereof
         received by Lender have not, been materially adversely affected as the
         result of any fire, explosion, earthquake, chemical spill, accident,
         strike, lockout, combination of workmen, flood, embargo, riot, or
         cancellation or loss of any major contracts;

                  (D) No event has occurred and no condition exists which,
         either prior to or upon the consummation of the transactions
         contemplated hereby, constitutes an Event of Default under the Loan
         Agreement, either immediately or with the lapse of time or the giving
         of notice, or both;

                  (E) The property which is collateral for the indebtedness of
         the Borrower, WD or TMC to the Lender under the Security Agreement and
         other collateral documents of the Borrower, WD or TMC in favor of the
         Lender are subject to no liens or encumbrances except Permitted Liens;

                  (F) The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower,
         WD or TMC of its obligations under this Amendment Agreement will not
         cause a violation or default under any indenture, loan agreement, or
         other agreement of, or applicable to, the Borrower, WD or TMC; and

                  (G) Each of the Borrower, WD and TMC has the requisite
         corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this
         Amendment Agreement; each of such documents has been duly authorized,
         executed and delivered; and each of such documents constitutes a valid,
         binding and enforceable instrument, obligation or agreement of the
         Borrower, WD or TMC, in accordance with its respective terms, except as
         enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting enforcement
         of creditors' rights generally.

         4. Effectiveness of Documents. The terms and conditions hereof shall
not be effective until each of the following are delivered to the Lender:

                  (A) Amendment Agreement. Three (3) fully executed originals of
         this Amendment Agreement.

                  (B) Other Documents, Etc. Such other documents, instruments
         and certificates as the Lender may reasonably request.

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<PAGE>

         5.       Miscellaneous.

                  (A) This Amendment Agreement sets forth the entire
         understanding and agreement of the parties hereto in relation to the
         subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior negotiations and
         agreements among the parties relative to such subject matter. No
         promise, condition, representation or warranty, express or implied, not
         herein set forth shall bind any party hereto, and none of them has
         relied on any such promise, condition, representation or warranty. Each
         of the parties hereto acknowledges that, except as in this Amendment
         Agreement otherwise expressly stated, no representations, warranties,
         or commitments, express or implied, have been made by any other party
         to the other regarding the subject matter hereof. None of the terms or
         conditions of this Amendment Agreement may be changed, modified, waived
         or canceled, orally or otherwise, except in a writing, signed by the
         party to be charged therewith, specifying such change, modification,
         waiver or cancellation of such terms or conditions, or of any preceding
         or succeeding breach thereof, unless expressly so stated.

                  (B) Except as hereby specifically amended, modified, or
         supplemented, the Loan Agreement, the Loan Documents and all other
         agreements, documents, and instruments related thereto are hereby
         confirmed and ratified in all respects and shall remain in full force
         and effect according to their respective terms.

                  (C) This Amendment Agreement may be executed in any number of
         counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original as
         against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which
         together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                  (D) This Amendment Agreement shall be governed by and
         construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of
         North Carolina.

                  (E) Upon request of the Lender, each of the parties hereto
         will duly execute and deliver or cause to be duly executed and
         delivered to the Lender such further instruments and do and cause to be
         done such further acts that may be reasonably necessary or proper in
         the opinion of the Lender to carry out more effectively the provisions
         and purposes hereof, including documents deemed necessary by the Lender
         to more fully evidence the obligations of Borrower, TMC or WD to Lender
         and protect and perfect the collateral therefor.

                  (F) The Borrower agrees to pay all reasonable costs and
         expenses of the Lender in connection with the preparation, execution
         and delivery of the documents executed in connection with this
         Amendment Agreement, including without limitation, the reasonable fees
         and out-of-pocket expenses of special counsel to the Lender.

                  (G) Each of WD and TMC (collectively the "Guarantors") as
         guarantors under, in the case of WD, a Guaranty Agreement dated July
         31, 1997 from the WD in favor of the Lender and, in the case of TMC, a
         Guaranty Agreement dated February 6,

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<PAGE>

         1998, of TMC in favor of the Lender, hereby joins in this Amendment
         Agreement to join in the terms hereof and evidence its consent to the
         terms and conditions hereof.


                      [Signatures appear on following page]



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<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed as of the
date hereof by the Company and the Lender.

ATTEST:                              SPEIZMAN INDUSTRIES, INC.


/s/ James H. McCorkle, III           By: /s/ Robert S. Speizman
----------------------------------      -----------------------
Secretary                                     Name: Robert S. Speizman
                                              Title:   President



ATTEST:                              WINK DAVIS EQUIPMENT CO., INC.


/s/ Dana G. Russell                 By: /s/ James H. McCorkle, III
----------------------------------     ---------------------------
Assistant Secretary                           Name: James H. McCorkle, III
                                              Title:   Vice President




ATTEST:                              TODD MOTION CONTROLS, INC.


/s/ James H. McCorkle, III           By: /s/ Robert S. Speizman
----------------------------------      -----------------------
Secretary                                     Name: Robert S. Speizman
                                              Title:   President



                                     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
                                     d/b/a NATIONSBANK, N.A.
                                     successor to NATIONSBANK, N.A.


                                     By: /s/ Leesa Sluder
                                     Name: Leesa Sluder
                                     Title:   Managing Director


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