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ZENITH MILLING MACHINE

The Zenith vertical miller was advertised from the late 1930s until at least the late 1940s by the G.Elliott Machine Tool Group and was built in one of their many factories, probably that of the Victoria Machine Tool Co. Ltd. of Willesden in north London. This company were well known for their extensive range of well-made medium to heavy-duty horizontal, vertical and universal models badged as "Victoria" and a less-expensive range sold under the "Pallas" brand name.
Of simple and straightforward design and construction (and obviously intended to undercut even the Pallas Models), the Zenith was, at 1030 lbs, of relatively light construction with a main column so narrow that in order to achieve a reasonable degree of separation the knee ways were forced to overlap the outside edges of the column's front face. Despite the resulting skimpy appearance the machine has a very reasonable range of movements with the hand-feed 32" x 8" table travelling 18-inches  longitudinally, a generous 9-inches in traverse and 15-inches vertically. The maximum clearance between spindle nose and table was 15
1/2" and the distance between the spindle centre line and the inside face of the column 9-inches.
The table carried three 5/8" T slots spaced 1
5/8" apart was provided with a wide suds drain around its periphery (which somewhat reduced the clamping area).  Although bolted-in "gib blocks" (rather than loose "gib strips") were used to adjust the fit of table to knee, and knee to column, only a single locking screw was fitted to each axis and this unfortunate cost-cutting exercise would have provided every opportunity for an "interrupted cut" to vibrate the slides from their secured positions.
The vertical head was carried on the end of a round shaft that passed horizontally through the top of the column with a plate at the rear holding a 1 h.p. 1400 rpm motor that drove forwards by a V belt running over 5-step pulleys to give a speed range of: 525, 900, 1400, 2170 and 3730 rpm. Alternative speed ranges were available with a 700 rpm motor giving 260, 450, 700, 1085 and 1865 rpm and a 900 rpm motor 340, 580, 900, 1390 and 2400 rpm. It is not clear how (if at all) the belt tension could be relaxed to allow changes of speed. The head was clamped in place by three 5/8" bolts which, when slackened, allowed the head to swivel 120º in either direction. The spindle was hardened and ground, ran in two double-row radial thrust ball-bearings and was moved through its 4-inches of travel by a handwheel turning a robust worm-and-wheel mechanism. Locked by good-sized compression clamp the spindle was bored through 1/2" to allow a draw bar to pull collets or other fittings into the No. 10 Browne & Shapre taper - and unusual choice for an English machine, even then.
Supplied with the machine was an electric light and motor pulley, everything else being extra. Accessories included a table power-feed attachment, a choice of different motors and speed ranges (though no speed-reducing "backgear" assembly) and the usual range of rotary tables, dividing heads, swivelling machine vices, boring heads and angle plates..

Zenith Vertical Milling Machine circa 1939

The head was clamped in place by three 5/8" bolts which, when slackened, allowed the head to swivel 120º in either direction.

The spindle was hardened and ground, ran in two double-row radial thrust ball-bearings and was moved through its 4-inches of travel by a handwheel turning a robust worm-and-wheel mechanism. Locked by good-sized compression clamp the spindle was bored through 1/2" to allow a draw bar to pull collets or other fittings into the No. 10 Browne & Sharpe taper - and unusual choice for an English machine, even then.

The table carried 3 T slots spaced 15/8" apart, was provided with a wide suds drain around its periphery (which somewhat reduced the working area).  Although bolted-in "gib blocks" (rather than loose "gib strips") were used to adjust the fit of table to knee, and knee to column, only a single locking screw was fitted to each axis and this unfortunate cost-cutting exercise would have provided every opportunity for an "interrupted cut" to vibrate the slides from their secured positions.