Abstract: A cloth-laying machine including spaced dished side frame members connected by channel-shaped cross members and mounting four positively driven rubber-like wheels which are supported on a cloth-laying table, spaced spring-biased nonload bearing guide wheels mounted on one of the side frame members for engaging a guide track on the cloth-laying table, switches associated with the guide wheels for deactuating the machine driving motor in the event the guide wheels should leave the track, and a catcher blade actuating mechanism including rollers mounted in permanent elevated relationship to the top of a cloth-laying table and having a lost motion connection with the machine frame for actuating a catcher blade assembly. The machine also includes a supplementary brake system which is energized in the event that the primary braking system fails.