a blowing gland 56 is positioned adjacent to and downstream of the vacuum gland 40 the blowing gland 56 is also a fixed duct connected to a separate source of blowing air which creates a blowing region extending from a location adjacent to the vacuum region 46 to a position on the roll at a level with the reel tube threader 54 in operation a tail 30 is blown by air jets not shown through a tube threader 50 toward the vacuum region 46 of the sheave 32 on the roll 24 the vacuum gland 40 draws air through the holes 36 which causes the tail 30 to adhere to the surface 60 of the roll 24 the engaged tail 30 transits the nip 28 between the upper roll 26 and the lower roll 24 where it is conducted to a position 52 spaced from the threading tube 54 the tail 30 is then blown by air indicated by arrows 62 which passes through the blowing gland 56 and is thus blown away from the surface 60 of the roll 24 and into the inlet 64 of the tube threader 54 where air jets not shown propel the tail 30 to the reel not shown the threading apparatus 20 threads a closed calender 22 once the calender 22 is threaded the tail is removed from threading tubes 50 54 through the open bottom slot 66 the tail is then widened until the entire web is fed through the calender 22 the sheave 32 will be run only intermittently used only when threading a start up of a new parent roll or after a sheet break the suction gland 40 is supplied with negative air pressure through a manifold 68 the blowing air is supplied through a manifold 70.