I think Warco were selling something similar around 30 years ago which they then replaced with a copy of the Emco FB2 which didn't have the motor off to one side.

It's a Chester Champion milling machine, one of Chester Machine Tools early products that they sold for years. It had a four speed belt driven tilting head powered by a single phase motor.The identical Warco version was called the ZX15.

The six speed geared head Warco XZ15 mill was Warco's replacement for their VHM mill which was the copy of the Emco FB2 machine, the geared head XZ15 was not as good as the Emco copy VHM and was only offered briefly.

It's easy to mix up the Warco belt drive ZX15 with their geared head XZ15 mill.

Edited By Lathejack on 14/09/2020 09:26:43

Edited By Lathejack on 14/09/2020 09:33:02

Hi Paul,

If the Chester Champion is as heavy as the Warco ZX15 it weighs around 135kg. I don't know this particular model but I assume it should be easy to dismantle the head. I did that when I moved my milling machine (of similar weight) into my workshop. I did have the help of a younger (and stronger) friend, but it was not difficult to move. To get the mill into a van you could slide it up a couple of 2×4 wooden beams. Take care so you don't need a visit to your GP afterwards.

Thor

PS. Found this on the web.

Edited By Thor on 14/09/2020 10:14:14

I would suggest that that machine could be 3 phase assuming it is being powered by the 3 phase red socket and plug on the wall behind. Also the 370 380 numbers you mention could be voltage ratings but they could equally be wattages. Hard to say for certain without further examination but dont assume its single phase

Hope that helps, Craig

FWIW, my advice on moving the machine would be, if possible lift it complete with a crane, with a sling around the Head.

If, to reduce weight, it has to be dismantled, it would be better to remove the Head from the Column, and leave the column attached to the Base. Otherwise, the shimming between Column and Base could be lost / misplaced and then you will have the problem of trying to re tram it, to return it to accurate condition.

If you are a newbie, this may be a problematic situation for you without more experienced and better equipped help.

HTH

Howard

I think this is 3 phase By the look of the size of the cable and the type of plug as has been mentioned earlier.
The motor plate probably shows it is Wired in a Y formation, at 370/80 volts or current I doubt that there will be connections to set it to 240 volts running from an inverter that’s an odd voltage, and not a lot of current 1/2 hip.

treat this machine with caution and get full information before parting with cash

Seller is dreaming if he thinks that is worth £1400!

Paul.

I looked to buy one of these when they were first introduced, as it was the only small milling machine that looked vaguely affordable at the time for me. IIRC they started out around the £700-800 mark & also IIRC that included the 3 speed table feed gearbox that is not present on the machine pictured.

Ultimately I didn't get one. I had reservations about the limited speed selection (4 speeds via belt change), the high lowest speed (400 rpm IIRC) & the lack of quill graduations. But the biggest "downer" when I had a close look at one was the method of raising the head on the column. The head mounting telescopes on the fixed column and is only clamped with a very basic split in the head casting closed up with a bolt. When the head is elevated, there is very little of the head casting engaged on the column & the clamp action on the one I inspected was poor – at the kind of head postions you would be using most of the time with a vice + tooling fitted, I couldn't see how it would have much rigidity. Add in the generally poor fit & finish of the example I inspected (fastners & clamps loose in threads, backlash in the feed screws & quill arrangement & the sloppy column fit) & I decided that however low the purchase price it was not the machine for me.

With inflation, if it all looked reasonable & included the vice & chuck shown then £500 might have been reasonable – but not much more IMO.

Keep looking – something better will show up eventually.

Nigel B.

Paul,

I’ve just tried OCR and translation on your photo:

This is obviously not complete or accurate, but it’s a pretty good start !

_______________________________________________

のminiature three-phase asynchronous motor
Model A027124 Power 370 pages
15ま
Lead rate 0 insulation grade mesh speed 1400 rpm/s
years
Voltage 380V current
| Factory year and month
Wuhu City Micro Motor-Factory
Connection

_______________________________________________

Happy to have another try, if you can provide a better photo of the plate.

MichaelG.

Just read back through this thread, and realised that my translation was too late !

£1400 certainly seems excessive to me.

MichaelG.