Abstract: An escapement apparatus of this invention accepts a contiguously arrayed plurality of conductors and dispenses them into a carrier spaced apart on centers to facilitate their assembly to a ribbon connector. The escapement apparatus includes a guideway having a first portion which receives the conductor array and which is inclined at an angle to the horizontal. The array is received in the first portion of the guideway and a second, more steeply inclined portion and is biased toward an exit. The exit communicates with a passageway along which is moved a toothed carrier. The carrier includes a plurality of nests having a spacing which corresponds to that of the connector. As the carrier is moved at a velocity which is controlled relative to forces applied to the conductor array in the guideway, the nests are aligned seriatim with the exit to facilitate the movement of a conductor into each nest.