Abstract: Improvements in apparatus for the manufacture of a cable by laying or assemblying pre-twisted outer strands around a pre-twisted core. For smooth transmission of the pre-twist through the core length from a pay-out reel to a laying die, a series of interspaced pairs of opposed guide rollers are disposed along the path of the core to engage the same therebetween. Further, for smooth transmission of the pre-twists through the lengths of the outer strands from respective pay-out reels to the laying die, a series of interspaced tapered guide rollers are disposed along a curve in the path of each outer strand. At least some of the tapered guide rollers are set an an angle to the axial direction of the outer strand being fed thereover and, preferably, further to the direction normal to the vertical plane containing the curve in the outer strand path.