Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for producing compact stranded conductors on single and double twist machines. This is achieved by preshaping and metering the preshaped wires to have generally sectored cross-sectional profiled complementary configurations and positioning and orienting the preshaped wires to substantially correspond to their positions and orientations in relation to the core wire in the final compact twisted conductor. The wires are metered to a double twist strander which is used to initially twist the preshaped wires about the core wire in a generally loose construction, and these wires are subsequently locked into abutment against each other when imparted a second twist to form the compact composite conductor.