I have a query about wire for acupuncture needles. The writer is sceptical
about the claims for bone and other needles. Does anyone know when fine
steel wire became available? (I think fine cold-drawn iron wire would
probably do the job.) Biringuccio (1540) describes wire drawing on a fine
wire bench for gold. He writes that steel can be drawn that way too. No
doubt of that but was it drawn to fine wire in China at the time? Or
anywhere.
Peter Hutchison
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