>> From an encyclopedia: >> "History of wire production >> Wire was originally made by beating the metal out into plates, which were >> then cut into continuous strips, and afterwards rounded by beating. The art >> of wire-drawing does not appear to have been known until the 14th century, >> and it was not introduced into England before the second half of the 17th >> century. ...." >> RT "Wire drawing required a lot of energy. This requirement could be lessened with lubricant. All types of lubricants were tried with little success. In 1632 the needle-makers, who had developed steel wire, accidentally discovered that human urination applied to the wire left a coating that lubricated the wire and helped smooth the surface. It also helped prevent rusting. The use of this lubricant in wire drawing lasted well into the 19th century when a hot lime bath took its place."
"The 17th century brought the use of the waterwheel. The wire draw-bench incorporated crankshafts, tappets, hind spring bars, and bell crank levers. All innovations increased the output of wire but tong marks and splice irregularities still required much hand filing and sanding before the finished product could be sold." RT ________________ http://polyhymnion.org To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
