Abstract: A metal tube induction annealing apparatus employs an induction heating enclosure having an elongated glass tube encircled by an electromagnetic coil of an induction heating system which provides an induction annealing chamber for receiving a hollow metal tube for undergoing annealing and an inert purge gas for bathing the tube during annealing. Cooling stages are located end-to-end downstream of the induction enclosure for progressively cooling the annealed tube. The inert purge gas is made to flow upstream in a direction opposite to the downstream direction of tube movement through the annealing chamber and cooling stages for accomplishing constant bathing or shielding of the exterior and interior wall surfaces of the tube and removal of heat by inert purge gas flowing through and out of the trailing end of the tube.