Abstract: A spool for holding wires or cords made of metal, plastic or the like is useful, in particular, for holding welding wires. The spool is made from one-piece segments, each forming a U-shaped supporting bow with a cross bridge, and has legs extending inwardly from the ends of the cross bridge in radial planes. The free ends of the legs of the bow have extensions extending in the circumferential direction. The extensions, joined together, form two parallel wire rings and, for joining the segments together, each has an indentation at the transition end to the associated leg. The radial legs approximately extend up to the spool hub diameter and are bent through 180.degree. outwardly in the direction of the extension and returned radially, whereby the outer side of the bend is tangential to the spool hub inner diameter. The cross bridges form the spool winding outer diameter.