Abstract: Plain oval cigarettes which issue from a maker in such orientation that the minor axes of their oval cross-sectional outlines extend vertically are advanced lengthwise in the spiral groove of a trough toward an outlet where the major axes of their oval cross-sectional outlines extend vertically. The thus reoriented oval cigarettes are attracted to the undersides of receptacles which are pivotably mounted on a rotary carrier and deliver the cigarettes, without any further changes in the orientation of the major and minor axes of their cross-sectional outlines, to successive peripheral flutes of a rotary drum-shaped conveyor which transports the cigarettes in such a way that the minor axes of their oval cross-sectional outlines extend radially of the rotational axis of the drum-shaped conveyor. This ensures that the oval cigarettes are more reliably held in their flutes during advancement with the drum-shaped conveyor.