A photographic copying machine has a copying unit which must receive a web of unexposed photosensitive web material well above the floor level. The web material is confined in cassettes which must be lifted before they reach a level in which the web material which is confined therein can be drawn into the copying unit. In order to facilitate manual manipulation of a relatively heavy and bulky cassette, the latter is provided with handless and with one part of a separable coupling which constitutes a hinge and enables the person in charge to pivot the cassette to an upright position subsequent to manual lifting approximately to the chest level. If necessary, the pivoted cassette is thereupon pushed into a chamber of the copying unit. A cassette for reception and storage of freshly exposed photosensitive web material can be manipulated in the same way.