The rolling of copper and brass wire
Account by Dr Richard Wilkes of Willenhall of a visit to the Brass Works at Cheadle and Alton, January 1738 (5350)

 “I went to see the Brass Works at Cheadle & Alveton wch. had lately been there erected. At the former Place Copper wth. Lap. Calaminaris & Charcoal is made into Brass Pigs, or Ingots, wch. are then rolled into Plates of 4 foot long. These are carried to Alverton where they are nealed and rolled again 6 Times to about 21 foot long. Then they are slit into Several Peices & at 6 Operations drawn into Wire of a proper Size for Pins. The Workmen told me there were three more Works of the same Kind in England, the Wire whereof was likewise used for Pins. This is a very compleat Work & the only one of the Kind in this Part of ye Nation; but Iron Wire is made at Prestwood in the Road from W’Hampton to Worcester, ye Work having been there fixt about 10 or 12 Years ago.”

Notes:
“lapis calaminaris: calamine is another ore containing zinc (brass being an alloy of copper and zinc);
the term nealing derives from “annealing”, which is part of the rolling process, making metal subject to fire or heat to temper or toughen it