Abstract: A wire or band strapping machine comprises a driven roll pair for feeding a wire or band towards a guide loop about an object to be strapped as well as a driven roll pair for reversing the direction of movement of the wire or band to draw the same out of the guide and about the object, said pairs of driven rolls being placed at a distance above each other with the wire or band approaching the loop along a vertical U-shaped path with the feeding and reversing roll pairs operating on the upper and lower horizontal legs of that path. The motor drives the feeding roll pair by an endless member while the reversing roll pair is driven by the endless member between the two roll pairs.