There is disclosed a hand-held labeling machine which has a housing that carries a supply roll of labels. The labels can be successively dispensed in response to actuation of a manually operable actuator. The supply roll is prevented from unraveling by means of a U-shaped retainer which is movable between a first position out of straddling relationship with the roll to enable a full label roll to be inserted into an access opening in the housing and a second position in which the retainer straddles the label roll.
