Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a pair of vertically disposed pinch rolls to facilitate the withdrawal of a strip of material from a rotatable mandrel is disclosed. The lower roll is operated conventionally at a preselected rotational velocity tending to advance the bottom surface of the strip through the rolls at a corresponding speed. The top roll is operated hydrostatically in response to strip speed and torque output feedback signals so as to maintain a constant output torque at a rotational velocity tending to advance the top surface of the strip at the monitored value of strip speed. As a result, the strip is advanced through the pinch rolls at a speed corresponding to the preselected rotational velocity of the bottom roll.