Abstract: A delivery and locating apparatus for receiving an orientated rivet dispensed from a supply of rivets and positioning the rivet for a heading operation. The apparatus includes a gripping mechanism movable between a rivet receiving position and a rivet locating position and includes gripping surfaces which are biased together by a spring member for gripping the shank portion of a rivet provided from a delivery tube. The delivery tube includes a cam portion which separates the gripping surfaces against the bias from the spring member when the gripping mechanism moves into a rivet receiving position so that the shank portion of the rivet from the delivery tube can move freely between the gripping surfaces. As the gripping mechanism moves away from the delivery tube the gripping surfaces are forced together by the bias from the spring, and the gripping surfaces hold the shank portion of the rivet firmly as the gripping mechanism moves from its rivet receiving to its rivet locating position.