Abstract: A roll stand has a frame and a pair of small-diameter and substantially parallel working rolls defining a workpiece nip. Thus a strip to be rolled passes in a horizontal upstream-to-downstream direction through the nip. Respective pairs of upper and lower upstream support levers have outer ends pivoted on the frame and inner ends downstream therefrom and respective pairs of upper and lower downstream support levers have outer ends pivoted on the frame downstream of the nip and inner ends pivoted on the inner ends of the upstream levers. Respective pairs of journal blocks mounted on the inner ends of the levers support the working rolls for rotation about substantially parallel axes flanking the nip. A pair of large-diameter and substantially parallel backup rolls flank and bear toward the nip on the working rolls and are rotatable in the frame about substantially parallel axes flanking the working-roll axes and offset therefrom in the direction.