Wire drawing bench, c. 1800

Wire drawing bench, c. 1800

This draw bench, which probably dates from the last decade of the eighteenth century, was used by four generations of the Hentsch family, makers of instruments for eye surgery. Wire was successively reduced in diameter by drawing it through dies supported by the pegs at the end of the bench. Traction was obtained by attaching the wire to the strap which was wound on to the drum by turning the winch.