A general description of Ellis' steam motor vehicles, taken from catalogue number 8 (1905)

Boiler

A strong, economical and accessible Boiler on all Steam Motor Vehicles is of the first importance and to this item we have paid most particular attention, having brought our long and varied experience in all kinds of Boilers to bear on this subject we built the now well known "Ellis-Balmforth" patent curved fire tube boiler with the result that it is acknowledged, after exhaustive and most extensive trials, to be absolutely the only durable, efficient and economical boiler made.  The particular formation of tubes and tube plate provides for expansion and contraction of tubes without in any way distressing the tube ends when expanded into the tube plates.  the "Ellis-Balmforth" Boiler gives a greater heating surface compared with its grate area than other vertical fire or water tube boiler that we know of.

Fuel

Coke is the most general fuel used in our boilers but welsh coal can be also used and in cases where we make boilers with extra large fire boxes for colonial purposes wood can be used.  In some countries where petroleum and crude oil is cheap we fit our patent oil burner which is very economical and easy to manipulate.

Regulation of steam pressure

To regulate the steam pressure a damper is fitted into the base of the Funnel so arranged that the Driver can place it in any position he chooses to make large or small aperture.  The ashpan is also fitted with a damper which can be raised or lowered at will.  These form ready means of checking the steam production and preventing blowing off when wagon is standing still.

Provision for removal of water deposits

Three wash out plugs are provided to each boiler, two in front and one at back, and all muddy deposits can easily be removed with the aid of a hose and a good pressure of water.

Facilities for cleaning out

The question of the time that should elapse before boiler dome is removed for cleaning internally depends entirly on the class of water that is being used, but we find by experiance that the usual time is five or six months, to get to the water sides of the tubes in our boiler is not the laborious job it is with most makes, the dome can be easily removed from the boiler without removing the boiler from the wagon at all, when the dome has been removed each individual tube can be cleaned or scrape, also both top and bottom tube plates.  For cleaning the fire side of the tubes only the smoke box lid requires to be lifted when a wire tube brush can be passed down each tube and the whole next of tubes thoroughly cleansed in a very short time.