Apparatus for transferring cigarettes from a first station where the cigarettes arrive by moving axially to a second station which the cigarettes leave by moving sideways has a rotary carrier for several hollow crank arms which are rotatably mounted in the carrier and whose free ends are provided with rotary receiving devices for retention and transport of cigarettes from the first to the second station while the carrier rotates in response to rotation of an eccentric holder which is driven by the prime mover of the cigarette making machine. The holder transmits motion to discrete crank units which cooperate with universal joints and cardanic shafts to prevent changes in orientation of receiving devices during orbital movement of receiving devices about the axis of the carrier. The crank arms can turn back and forth in response to rotation of the carrier with reference to a stationary cam which is tracked by levers, one for each crank arm and each transmitting motion to the corresponding crank arm by way of a discrete gear train.