Abstract: A winder in a papermaking machine has a frame with horizontal rails which are positioned above a rotatable reel support drum, which is fixedly mounted. As a relatively large diameter wound paper web reel, or jumbo, is formed on a spool riding on the rails, the surface of the jumbo remains tangent to the top of the support drum as the spool moves from an initial position vertically over the reel drum to a position laterally displaced horizontally along the rail. Centerwind drive(s) control spool torque. As the jumbo increases in size, it is moved linearly away from the initial position, while maintaining the paper web reel rotatively supported and in a nipping engagement with the support drum. Nip pressure between the support drum and the jumbo is controlled by the force of gravity and the horizontal positioning of the jumbo along the rails. The positioning of the jumbo along the rail may be controlled by a conventional pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, or a screw mechanism.