When Ailsa was established Cawthorn Sinclair were the preferred choice to be the main N. England Volvo dealer but the Tait brothers managed to persuade the Ailsa management that at Haydon Bridge they were in a better geographical position to serve both NW and NE England.
C&S had several vehicles a day running between the Caterpillar plants at Birtley and Glasgow and at the time the A69 ran through Haydon Bridge right past Taits yard. A sign was often seen on the pavement outside Taits saying “Cawthorn please call in” which meant there was spares to collect by the next wagon passing on its way back to Birtley.
Tyneside