A terminal applicator for attaching an electric terminal to the end of an insulated non-metallic ignition type wire having one or both ends of the wire insulation stripped to expose a short section of the non-metallic conductor. The wire is conveyed in a step by step manner to the terminal applicator. The applicator includes a die set having a movable die and a fixed die. The movable die includes a pusher plate which is moved downwardly with the movable die to partially bend the exposed conductor at the end of the wire downward into the path of motion of the movable die. The whole terminal applicator is moved toward the wire to seat the end of the wire in the terminal ears of an electric terminal. The motion of the applicator is used to bend the downwardly bent conductor back against the outside surface of the insulation so that on crimping of the terminal ears around the insulation, the exposed end of the conductor of the wire will be in electrical contact with the terminal.
