Abstract: A frusto-conical shaped wire basket is formed of a plurality of upright wire loops welded in substantially perpendicular relationship to a plurality of wire rings. The baskets are formed by first welding wire connecting members to a plurality of arcuately shaped lengths of wire. Each of the arcuate lengths is of a different length and radius, and they are arranged concentrically in order of decreasing radius. The relative lengths of the arcuate segments are determined by the desired size of the finished basket. When the wire connecting members are welded to the arcuate segments in the first stage of basket production, there is formed a basket flat. The flat is then subjected to a conventional pinch roller mechanism which bends the flat into a conical shape. At that point the ends of each arcuate length are in face-to-face relationship and form a circle. The ends are then butt welded to close each circular ring to complete the wire basket.