Raimey,

Most of it was being done in the rolling mills, for the fabrication and initial welding of the billet. I know there were machines for twisting the iron, but do not know if the rolling mill or the barrel maker was doing it.

The final steps of wrapping it around a mandrel, could have been done by machine, but I have found no proof of that yet.

I believe that by 1870 the mills were producing the forged billets and the twisting was mechanized in both England and Belgium. I have some patent numbers that I have tried to search for, but can not seem to get results with the Beglian patent database. It does not appear to go back that far even when I provide the patent number, applicant description and holder's name.

Pete