Abstract: An extractor for removing contents from pre-opened envelopes which have two panels connected along three side edges and contents disposed in juxtaposition therebetween comprises an envelope magazine, a vacuum feed mechanism for sequentially withdrawing envelopes from the magazine and feeding the envelopes to cutter assemblies, which severs each successive envelope along opposite side edges to separate the panels thereof along said opposite side edges. The cutter assemblies feed the envelope into a separating mechanism which includes a rotatable vacuum drum. One panel of the envelope is gripped by and moves with the rotating drum whereas the other envelope panel and the envelope contents move away from the drum in a direction generally tangent to the drum.