An apparatus for breaking the anode butt (15) and stripping the thimbles (13) from the yoke stubs (12) of an anode. The apparatus includes a support frame (20), a fixed plate assembly (21) secured to the supporting frame (20) and a ram assembly (22) extendible towards the fixed plate assembly (21). The fixed plate assembly (21) comprises a substantially rigid fixed plate (23) having recesses (24a) to receive the yoke (11) and yoke stubs (12). The recesses (24a) are shaped such that the thimbles (13) on the yoke stubs (12) of the anode butt (15) abut against the fixed plate assembly (21) during the extension of the ram assembly (22) to contact and break the anode butt. The fixed plate assembly (21) may be provided with a stub locating mechanism which locates the stubs in position and abuts against the thimbles (13) on the stubs (12) during the extension of the ram assembly (22). The stub locating mechanism also abuts against and is supported by the substantially rigid fixed plate (23).
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