Abstract: An apparatus suitable for measuring the surface temperature of a moving strip at an elevated temperature comprises a sensing head connected to a pneumatic actuator through a ball joint. Air under pressure is supplied to a chamber in the head and flows through a ring of passages to form an air cushion between the sensing head and the surface S whose temperature is to be measured. Part of the air flows inward across the surface S to a central aperture in the bottom plate of the head and its temperature is measured by a thermocouple in the aperture. The aperture leads to a cavity above plate and the cavity is vented by passages. The temperature recorded by the thermocouple is a measure of the temperature of surface S.