Abstract: A roll, such as a cloth bolt, loader for a roll manipulating machine, such as a cloth spreader, which includes a pair of horizontally spaced lifting arms mounted to a frame and adapted to receive a shaft supporting a roll for elevation. The lifting arms are raised in unison such that the roll is elevated until the support shaft thereof engages a pair of horizontally spaced guide rails. The guide rails terminate on a down slope such that the roll and roll support shaft are transferred from the elevating lifting arms for free movement down the guide rails. The guide rails terminate in bridge tracks which yield downwardly under the weight of the roll and its support shaft for transfer of the roll support shaft down onto an underlying roll support of a roll manipulating machine.