[1] Arguably they were the first producers of "fine pottery" in North Staffordshire, and although their own operations were not financially successful, they seem to have had a considerable influence on the following generation, who led the explosive growth of the industry in the 18th century.

[6] Around 1690, John Philip Elers settled in Bradwell Wood, near Burslem, a secluded spot, where he established a factory.

The products were stored in Dimsdale, about a mile away, and the buildings were said to be connected by a speaking tube;[7] the pottery was sold by David Elers in London, at his shop in the Poultry.

[10] A letter later written to Paul Elers, son of John Philip, by Josiah Wedgwood, mentioned the brothers making ware "by casting it in plaster moulds and turning it upon the outside by lathes"; this was dismissed as "astounding" by the Rheads,[11] but research in recent decades has shown it to be correct.

[12] The Elers brothers became the targets of legal action by John Dwight, also of Fulham, who had a monopoly of salt glazed stoneware.

Though archeological digs have not found any evidence of salt glazed shards under their workshop, they settled with Dwight by taking out a licence, that ran to 1698.

[5] In 1698, John Philip gave up his lease on the Bradwell property, where he had also been a gentleman farmer, but the Vauxhall works continued until both brothers became bankrupt in 1700.

[5] The Elers brothers brought the techniques of lathe turning, slip casting and relief ornamenting to Staffordshire, which may have been the result of their experience as silversmiths or because of their knowledge of European pottery.

The difficulty of distinguishing their wares from those of the many imitators who continued their broad style has long been recognised by scholars, but progress has been made, based on an understanding of their distinctive technique.