Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is applied to the surface of the work by contact with a member carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. a porous member loaded with a liquid to be applied as a coating for applying liquid or other fluent material to work of indefinite length using a roller {or other rotating member which contacts the work along a generating line characterised by means for removing partially liquid or other fluent material from the roller, e.g. scrapers }