extends through the shaft 18 and is rotatable therewith such as being splined thereto the rod 44 also in reciprocable within the shaft 18 to retract the fingers 38 partly within the drum 16 or extend them outwardly beyond the corresponding end of the drum into a position to catch yarn 12 as later described so that rotation of the drum 16 and cylinder 36 will wind yarn from the slot 20 onto the drum 16 the rod 44 is reciprocated by known means not shown in timed relation to rotational movement of the drum 16 preferably a conical cover plate 46 has a base flange secured as by screws 48 to the end plate 40 of the cylinder 36 detachably fastened to the cylindrical cover 22 over the corresponding ends of the drum 16 and the cylinder 36 is a frusto conical yarn guide cover plate 52 having a central circular aperture 54 at this larger end the plate 52 has an annular recess 56 which loosely receives the fingers 38 when extended in operation yarn 12 is trained through the slot 20 in the cylinder cover 22 and out through the central aperture 54 in the yarn guide cover plate 52 to the inserting device 14 the latter cover plate 52 is detached from the cylindrical cover 22 to facilitate this maneuver and the.