A paper machine wherein a pick-up roll or felt are eliminated. A pair of endless fabrics and forming rolls cooperating therewith provide with the pair of endless fabrics an ascending twin-wire former and in advance of the twin-wire former a single-wire former. One of these endless fabrics has an upper run extending laterally from the twin-wire former and carries the web formed at the twin-wire former beyond the latter on an upper surface of this upper run. A pair of press rolls include lower and upper press rolls which define a first press nip through which the above upper run travels together with an endless felt which is lapped around the upper press roll so that this endless felt and the above upper run are sandwiched between the press rolls with the web travelling beyond the first press nip together with the endless felt around part of the upper press roll. A rotary cylinder defines with this upper press roll at least a second press nip where the above endless felt travels together with the web between the upper press roll and this rotary cylinder. In this way the web is fully supported along a closed conduction path from the twin-wire former through the first and second press nips which form part of a press section to which the web is delivered without requiring a pick-up roll or felt.