McKay & Jardine
1913 saw the advent of a new lorry manufacturer in the town, McKay and Jardine, who operated from premises at the towns' West Cross. The partnership of Joseph McKay and George Jardine evolved from their time spent at Belhaven. McKay had been the works manager at Belhaven, whilst Jardine was an employee.
McKay and Jardine produced a light goods vehicle known as the Clyde. The Clyde was built initially with an Aster petrol engine, similar to those used in the fire pumps of the day. Towards the end of its production in 1933 the Clyde was fired using Buda engines imported from the U.S.A , and driven by Fuller gearboxes and Sheldon rear axles. The chassis were produced in Glasgow by Meechan's of Scotstoun. Little is known as to the numbers of Clyde's produced, however as with the Belhaven and the Morton, the Clyde became a popular alternative to Fords and Albions.
McKay and Jardine continued into the late 1970's with its Bedford agency, offering the only local outlet for commercial vehicles from 3.5 to 28.5 tonnes G.V.W . McKay and Jardine eventually sold out to Park's of Hamilton in early 1980, who were keen to purchase the established Vauxhall association. Park's, shortly after acquiring the premises at the West Cross, sold the ground to Wm. Low, the supermarket chain, who then flattened the extensive workshops to build a supermarket.
Wishaw, now in the new millenium, has seen a tremendous decline in all of its once booming industries. Morton's have moved away from the town and re-located in Newhouse, concentrating solely on its catering equipment manufacture. The once grandiose marble and fine stone facade of its Glasgow Rd. main office has been knocked down to facilitate a petrol station and a discount food retail outlet. Gone are the expansive yards that could be seen from the Bridge St. entrance, where workers could be seen welding and profile burning amidst huge iron export orders that lay in anticipation of their new homes. The Battle Axe factory still stands to day and is all that is left as a reminder of what once was the heart of a booming industry. To look at the pale red fire brick of its exterior you cannot imagine that only 60 years ago it was the centre of an industrial revolution.