Contained an infinitely-variable speed, spindle-drive mechanism, which operated through expanding and contracting cone pulleys and a speed-reducing gearbox, the head of the Boxford VM30 miller was capable of being tilted over through 45 degrees either way of central. A friction device was included to help obtain the correct setting - without the weight of the head overcoming the strength of the operator - and a dowel pin used to located the head in its true vertical position. Early versions employed a coil spring to assist with the opening and closing of the driven pulley, later models used a neater diaphragm-spring arrangement. Fitted with a 30 International taper, the spindle ran in "sealed-for-life" pre-loaded Timken taper roller bearings with a 12 mm thread drawbar to retain cutter holders.
Two sets of spindle speeds were available, giving a most useful range between  55-2000 r.p.m., with the spindle speed changed by rotating a dial (which  incorporated a rev. counter) on the front face of the head. To obtain the range of slow speeds from 55 to 500 rpm, a gear was  engaged by lifting then rotating through 180° a knob on top of the head (the advantages of being able to infinitely vary a spindle speed are considerable; it is nearly always possible to obtain a setting which is just right for the job in hand, and the changes can be made both instantly and in very small increments). Unfortunately, there was no quill feed on the head - either drilling or fine - all vertical movements had to be generated by elevating or depressing the knee.
With 2 T-slots, the 21.65" x 5.9" table had 11" of longitudinal travel and 5.5" of cross; unfortunately the table handles were in powder-coated aluminium and, whilst very smart when new, the coating has a tendency to peel off and look very untidy. The throat was 11" as was the maximum vertical clearance between the table and the spindle nose.
Nearly all VM30s were fitted with a 3-phase motor and changing it for a correctly-size single-phase unit (unless you can find one with the same diameter shaft as the original to mount the variable-speed pulley) is difficult; it is better to employ an electronic variable-speed "Inverter" that, in conjunction with the mechanical speed change, gives both a wider speed range and finer control of the speed setting.
The miller, complete with the maker's stand, weighed approximately 748 lbs..