Abstract: A roller construction is described for use in glass bending apparatus employing an array of curved rods. A tubular sheath is rotatably mounted on a curved rod. The sheath comprises a tubular metal winding that is coaxial with the rod and a coaxial metal meshing adjacent either the inner or outer surface of the winding. Such a sheath provides both good torsional resistance and flexibility in the axial direction. When an array of such curved rods is used to define a cylindrical surface in glass bending apparatus, heated glass sheets may be bent on such array to conform their curvature to the surface defined by the rods.