The present invention relates generally to industrial machinery, specifically to apparatus (1) for the manufacture of twisted wire (12) from two or more feed wires (10), whereby the twisted wire (12) is taken up onto a take up spool (3). The take up spool (3) is axially reciprocatingly displaceable along its longitudinal axis (15). The feed wires (10) are advanced through the apparatus by a capstan (19) configured and disposed to be axially aligned with the twisting means (2, 8) of the apparatus (1).