Abstract: The apparatus allows a metal blank which, in one embodiment, comprises a plurality of bars held in parallel relationship, to be formed into a twisted and bowed shaped object (4) which is referred to in the art as a basket. The forming can be achieved without the need for heating of the metal blank or high powered drive means and so, in one embodiment, can be formed by cold forming and the apparatus can be manually driven. The apparatus can also be adapted to form metal blanks into other forms by the fitting of appropriate forming tools.

Abstract: The invention provides that a former (A,B,C) is used for forming scrolls from strip metal (30). The former has a scroll flight which is in two parts (A,B) which are relatively movable in the direction of the axis about which the former (A,B,C) rotates to coil the strip (30) about the flight (A,B) by drawing it radially into the former. In the first stage of the process the strip (30) is coiled about the inner part (A) of the flight, the outer part (B) being held displaced axially so as not to interfere with the initial coiling by the strip (30), until the strip (30) clears the end of the outer part (B) of the flight which then move into the plane of the inner part (A) of the flight and coiling can continue onto the outer part (B). The apparatus can also, in selected embodiments, include additional mechanisms for making circles and arches from the strip and for cutting, punching, twisting and right angle bending the strip from the same drive.