Long enjoying a fine reputation as a maker of high-quality lathes - together with a limited range of small milling machines - over many decades the Weiler Company has concentrated on a relatively limited range of conventional, smaller models. Models have included the Commodor, Condor, Ergodor , Matador, Praktikant, Praktikus, Primus, Turnomat, the 260 Series of precision plain-turning types (in toolmaker, second-operation and capstan types) and other, similar types of smaller lathe that included screwcutting models sold in various forms and specifications as the 220, 250, RDT-260 and 280. The digits included in all Weiler lathe model designations referred to the swing - i.e. double the centre height so making, for example, the LZ280 a machine with a centre height of 140 mm (5.5")
Starting life in the 1930s, backgeared and screwcutting Weiler lathes had, by the late 1940s encompassed the types RDT-260 and LZT-280, followed quickly by the LD-250 and then the LZ-280 and LZ-300. By late in the following decade, the improved and larger LZ-300 had been introduced alongside the larger LZ-330 (though at the time the earlier models, including the LZ-280, were still being offered as less costly alternatives).
With a centre height of 150 mm and a capacity between centres of 800 mm, the Weiler LZ-300VS was mounted on a welded-steel, monobloc cabinet stand with, at first, just a single type of drive, a pre-selector gearbox with speeds from 58 to 2400 r.p.m. intended to make the lathe more useful when pressed into action for production work. However, within a year, a second model was to be introduced, the LZ300W, this having a variable-speed drive by expanding and contracting pulleys that gave spindle speeds spanning 68 to 2400 r.p.m. Like all gearbox-equipped screwcutting Weiler lathes of this era (1950s to the mid-1960s), the box had a sliding-tumbler selector that protruded through a slot in the front face (the subsequent Matador lathe of the Mid 1960s was improved by the fitting an enclosed, sealed box with all-lever control).
A smaller, less-expense lathe, the 140 mm centre height by 800 mm between centres Weiler Model LZS-280W used the same variable-speed drive system as the LZ-300 but with speeds spanning 50 to 1600 r.p.m. Earlier versions of the 280, recognisable by a doors to the right-hand left-hand sides of the central compartment, could be had as the LZG-280N and LZU-280N with 1 h.p. motors that gave speeds from 38 to 1600 r.p.m.; the LZG-280W with a 1.6 h.p. motor and speeds from 50 to 1600 r.p.m. and the LZU280, this being fitted with a 2-speed, 0.75/1/5 h.p. motor that provided a speed range from 40 to 1660 r.p.m. In nearly all other respects the mechanical specification of the LZ-280 was virtually identical to that of the larger LZ-300.
A rather more old-fashioned looking incarnation of the 280 was the 140 mm centre height by 800 mm between centres Model LZG-280N. This used a cast-iron stand with drive to the headstock spindle by a conventional, less-expensive countershaft unit held within the left-hand cabinet plinth. The customer could specify either a single-speed motor, that gave 12 spindle speeds from 38 to 1600 r.p.m., or a 2-speed that provided a range spanning 38 to 3200 r.p.m.
Detailed specification charts for the LZ-280 and LZ-300 can be found towards the bottom of the page..

150 mm centre height by 800 mm between centres Weiler LZ300W mounted on a welded-steel, monobloc cabinet stand with mechanically-driven variable-speed drive by expanding and contracting pulleys that gave speeds spanning 68 to 2400 r.p.m. The alternative version, the LZ300VS had a pre-selector gearbox with speeds from 58 to 2400 r.p.m. Like all gearbox-equipped screwcutting Weiler lathes of this era (1950s to the mid 1960s0 the box had a sliding tumbler selector. The subsequent Matador lathe of the Mid 1960s had an enclosed box with all-lever control

140 mm centre height by 800 mm between centres Weiler Model LZ280W from 1965 with a mechanically-driven variable-speed drive system by expanding and contracting pulleys that gave spindle from 50 to 1600 r.p.m. Earlier versions, recognisable by a doors to the right hand left-hand sides of the central compartment, could be had as the LZG280N and LZU280N with 1.h h.p. motor (spindle speeds from 38 to 1600 r.p.m.);  the LZG280W with a 1.6 h.p. motor and speeds from 50 to 1600 r.p.m. and the LZU280, this having a 2-speed, 0.75/1/5 h.p. motor that provided a speed range from 40 to 1660 r.p.m. In nearly all other respects the mechanical specification was virtually identical to that of the larger LZ300

140 mm centre height by 800 mm between centres Weiler Model LZG280N on a cast-iron plinth stand with drive to the headstock spindle by a conventional, less-expensive countershaft unit held within the left-hand cabinet plinth. The customer could specify either a single-speed motor that gave 12 spindle speeds from 38 to 1600 r.p.m. or a 2-speed that provided a range spanning 38 to 3200 r.p.m.
In nearly all other respects the mechanical specification was virtually identical to that of the LZ300