Well it's from 1968 but it is new to me. The vitals are: Zimmermann DZ2000, made in West Germany, 32" swing over bed, remove the gap block and the swing is 54". Between centers is around 8', 9' bed and 11 1/2' total lenght, 6 1/2hp, two speed motor with the most complicated starter I have ever seen, made by AEG, reversing, with a range of 0-1000 rpm and 1000-2000rpm with a VDO tach that register 0-2000 in forward and reverse. The tach is mechanical and is not working, need help, anyone know VDO tachs or someone to repair this one? Every handwheel has a degree dial and there are 6 stop buttons and 1 on button. The stops are, start button, hit once to start and again to stop. The lever on the headstock is the brake, when you push it towards the tailstock it activates a stop switch inside the headstock, there is a stop button at the end of the bed and there is also a remote stop with a 25' cord so you can use it on the outboard side or anywhere. There are two switches near the bottom of the headstock, one is a motor on/off switch and the other is to change the motor speed from low to high and yes they had to throw an off position on that switch. The compound is different then an Oliver in that it has one more axis and is much heavier and more reach. The tailstock pivots so you can turn tapers with the compound, the tailstock throw is half as long as my old Oliver 20B. The tool rest base is really long to accomidate the 54" swing. The spindle is 3" diameter or metric equivelent and there is a degree dial there also.The spindle also has an extension of 8", with it on you can move the compound or tool rest behind the faceplate and turn from the backside. The faceplates on the floor are 16", 26", 36", and a solid steel 24" with slots that weighs 65 lbs. by itself. The lathe weighs in at around 2 tons and the lathe rests on cast steel platforms, one under the headstock and one under the end of the bed, they are 4" thick and if I did the math right the 30"x30"x4" headstock platform weighs 1029 lbs. This lathe was not at all fun to move. I sold my Oliver 20B to get this and as much as I loved my Oliver the Zimmeramnn is bigger, longer, and heavier and just as welcome in my shop as the Oliver was. I grew up using a Oliver 26 so a lathe this size is average to me. There is also an outboard floorplate, that is not in the 2 ton weight, that holds a column stand that you attach the compound to so you can use the compound outboard as well, the floorstand is not visible. When turning outboard you reverse the spindle direction and turn on the left as you would inboard. Faceplates fit either side and they have locking collars so a heavy brake or God forbid a nasty grab will not unscrew the faceplates. The spindle and tailstock tapers are number 4. The lathe aslo has a bed shelf to hold tool, coffee, or your lunch. You can see some of the original cutters sitting on the compound and the long boring bar that holds all the cutters, the reach of the bar is unreal, solid 1 1/8"x 1 1/8" bar about 16" long. I have a couple patterns to turn and quite a few walnut stumps that I want to make some lamp base out of. If anyone has ever seen a Zimmermann lathe let me know. There is a much smaller Zimm at another pattern shop in Akron, same as mine but much smaller, just shrunk down. Let me know what evryone think and if anyone is interested in seeing it.
Jeff Singleton
Singleton's Woodworking & Pattern Works
Barberton, OH
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OTOH, you'll have plenty of stability for turning them big Euro style ones! 
Man, that is really one honkin' machine! Can't wait to see that 54" salad bowl!!! Congrats! Awesome unit!
That is one hunk of iron. Ok I want to see one those big turkey platters. That is one awesome piece of machinery.
