Abstract: In a device for melting a body of a solid thermoplastic adhesive material, a melting chamber is positioned within a housing and a feed apparatus moves the solid body in a step-wise fashion through the housing into the chamber. The feed apparatus includes a slidable carriage with a pair of separate clamping jaws within the carriage. A rocker lever is pivotally mounted on the housing and is articulated to the clamping jaws. When a trigger or pushbutton on the housing is pressed inwardly, it pivots the rocker arm and initially displaces the clamping jaws inwardly into clamping contact with the solid body and then moves the carriage, the clamping jaws and the clamping body toward the melting chamber.