Abstract: Th leading end of a tire bead wire is gripped in the usual manner radially inwardly of the inside diameter of the bead as a forming drum is rotated to form a hoop-like bead of multiple convolutions of the wire. Upon release by the gripper members, the leading, initially gripped end of the wire moves into a void provided therefor on the inner diameter of the bead. A member is then rotated to bring the outer surface of an arm into physical engagement with the end of the wire at the inner diameter of the bead, urging it into tight engagement with the tacky surfaces of adjacent wire convolutions, thereby ensuring that the inner wire end does not become disengaged. Certain elements may be mounted in either of two positions to effectively double their useful life. The stitching operation may be performed while the forming drum is still rotating, i.e., as the bead is being formed, whereby operation of the invention does not add to the time required to fabricate the beads.