Abstract: A pick-up roll apparatus is disclosed for picking up a tail of a web from a forming wire and for transferring the tail to a press felt wrapping around a portion of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a perforate rotatable shell which is disposed adjacent to the forming wire, the shell having a first and a second end. A stationary core is disposed within the shell, the core defining a tail box which is bounded by the shell. The tail box is disposed adjacent to one of the ends of the shell and is selectively connected to a source of partial vacuum such that when the tail of the web is cut on the forming wire, the tail is drawn from the forming wire onto the press felt which wraps around the rotatable shell. The core also defines a downstream chamber which extends between the first end and the second end of the shell.