Abstract: A bandolier carrier strip for carrying pin-like contact elements through a plating bath and for subsequent use in automated insertion apparatus is provided by a non-metallic strip-like base member of flexible non-conductive material with a layer of conductive material on at least one side thereof. The bandolier has a plurality of pairs of spaced apertures spaced longitudinally therealong. When the bandolier is flexed along its longitudinal center line, the apertures in a selected pair of apertures align allowing a pin-like contact element to be inserted therewithin. When the flexing action is released, the natural flexural characteristic of the bandolier tends to straighten out the same and cause the pin-like contact element to be releasably gripped in the apertures and placed in electrical contact with the conductive material on the surface of the strip-like base member. This process is repeated to load the pairs of spaced apertures with pin-like contact elements.