A device for drying and preheating particulate feedstock for glass melting apparatuses including a vertical shaft in which a plurality of gas guides are arranged level by level. The shaft has at least one gas channel for exhaust gases from the melting apparatus. a) feedstock guide elements are arranged one above another within the shaft with lateral spacings on all sides, with a portion of the gas guides extending through the guide elements, b) at least one of the guide elements is mounted in a transversely movable fashion with respect to the shaft independently of other guide elements, c) the guide elements are provided with converging oblique surfaces for introducing the feedstock at upper ends of the guide elements and with converging oblique surfaces for the emergence of the feedstock at lower ends of the guide elements, and d) at least one guide element is connected to a vibrating drive.