A straightforward, heavy-duty No. 3 Morse taper industrial-class drill, the Elliott 3A was unusual only in the manner of its drive arrangement. Fitted as standard with a 1.25 h.p. motor mounted on a spring-loaded late, a single V-belt running over a 5-step pulley took the drive forwards to an intermediate pulley and from there - over twin V-pulleys -  by a segment-type "Brammer" belt to the spindle. When fitted with the usual-for-the British-market 1425 r.p.m. 3-phase, 1.25 h.p. motor, the arrangement gave five speeds that spanned a useful 110 to 1780 r.p.m.. However, other motor options were available including a 1.25 h.p. 950 r.p.m. that gave five speeds from 70 to 1180 r.p.m. and a 2-speed 950/1400 r.p.m. that produced ten speeds spanning a slightly more useful 70 to 1780. The electrical forward/reverse switch being fitted in an easily reached position on the front face of the hinge-up belt guard.
Power downfeed was fitted as standard, through unfortunately this was only a single-speed mechanism, set at the rate of 0.004" (0.1 mm) per single revolution of the spindle.
Two tables were offered, both with coolant troughs: a round one 17.5 inches (445 mm) in diameter and a rectangular, this having a working surface of 15" x 19" (381 x 483 mm) and machined with three T-slots and a central locating hole for a spigot-mounted machine vice. Both were lifted up and down the 4.75" (121 mm) diameter column by a large crank handle working through rack-and-pinion gearing and had a maximum clearance with the spindle nose of 23.5" (597 mm). The heavy foot - 31.75" x 18.5" (806 x 467 mm) - was machined with two longitudinal and two transverse T slots and had a maximum clearance between the spindle nose and its top surface of 41.5" (1054 mm).
Full details of the drill's specification can be found below.