In 1901, the Glasgow Weekly Herald, as part of an ongoing series entitled 'Captains of Industry' turned its attention on the Maybole agricultural implement works of Alexander Jack & Sons. The article, in the Weekly Herald of 27th July 1901, begins with some philosophical ruminations on the culture of the soil and the history of farm implements and machinery. It then goes on to say:

"There are several firms in Scotland devoted to the making of agricultural implements and machinery. Messrs Alexander Jack & Sons of Maybole may be taken as representative of that branch of the industry.

"The founder of the firm of Alexander Jack & Sons was a cartwright, who carried on his trade at Auchendrane, on the banks of the Doon near Maybole. He began business about 1835 and gradually developed a trade in the making of implements for farms round about. Mr Jack appears to have been a man of special energy and original genius, for he soon gained a reputation more than local. In 1852 he purchased ground in Cassillis Road on the outskirts of Maybole and built works planned by himself for his growing industry. Those works, both in external appearance and internal arrangement tell something of Mr Jack's spirit and genius. Situated beside Maybole Parish Church, the works bear a strong outward resemblance to an old-fashioned kirk. Square and plain, the doorways and windows are ornamented, the windows lead-framed and rimmed with coloured glass, the building presents an appearance singularly unlike the ordinary engineering work. The motto 'laborare est orare' might fitly be inscribed on its portal and whether consciously or unconsciously that idea seems to have inspired the architect and builder. Mr Jack put his whole mind into his work and he had his reward.

"In 1876, Mr John Marshall, the present head of the firm, was taken into partnership, and at the death of Mr Jack took over the whole control of the business. Mr Marshall, though not a trained engineer, has done much to maintain and enhance the firm's reputation. In fact, it must be said, that during his rule the firm has attained its highest prosperity. Locally respected: he has been Provost of Maybole, and the esteem in which he is generally held by his fellow engineers is shown by his election to President of the Scottish Agricultural Engineers.

"To the city visitor who expects a free-and-easy condition of things in the country factory the office arrangements must be surprising. There is the enquiry counter, and behind it the counting house, just as though it were in the heart of Glasgow. Businesslike and spacious, the offices are on the second floor of the front building. The land slopes upwards to the back, and on a level with the counting house the large engineering shop extends back for about sixty yards on an earthen floor. Here all kinds of iron-turning machines are at work. Lathes varying from three feet bed up to sixteen feet; drills vertical and horizontal, planers, slotters, screw and tapping machines are cutting and shaping the metal parts of agricultural implements.

"Further back, at the very end of the shop, the blacksmiths have their fires and anvils, for the wheel rims have yet to be forged by the blacksmith's art and brawny force; the plough-irons are sharpened and tempered anew in the fire and on the ringing anvil. Thus the old craft and the new machines work hand-in-hand. To the right is the erecting and painting shop. Here mowers and reapers, manure distributors, potato diggers, horse rakes, turnip sowers and various other agricultural implements are put together. A few yards beyond, apart from the rest of the works, is the foundry. The castings done in the foundry are not large, but the patterns are varied and the castings numerous. From the high cupola at the end of the buildings the molten metal is run in ladles to rows of dark matrix boxes, and poured into one after the other. Brass fittings are also cast in the foundry, and brass finishing machines change the rough castings into bright and burnished pieces of metal.

"The engineering department is only one division of these works. Messrs Jack & Sons are cartwrights and sawmillers as well. In the yards flanking both sides of the works huge stacks and stores of timber are gathered. Thirty-five thousand felloes and a corresponding number of spokes are kept constantly in stock, while many tons of timber half-prepared and in rough logs lie awaiting the saws. At the side of the woodyard the log saws are constantly at work, and in the adjoining machine-shops the newest wood-turning lathes are fashioning spokes and naves and felloes with marvellous rapidity. The machinery here differs little from that of a cabinet factory. Circular saws, band saws, lathes, tenoning, mitreing, planing and cutting machines shape the hard and heavy pieces of timber for cart and carriage body or wheels. One of the most interesting appliances in the place is a new machine devised for putting on wheel tyres. The old method was to put the tyre on hot, and thus the felloe was charred and partially injured. By this new machine the tyres are put on cold. Shaped like a circular cistern, the heavy blocks ranged round its inner edge, the machine received the wooden frame of the wheel. A cold iron tyre or rim is laid round it, and the wheel is firmly fixed at the centre. The workman slowly turns a crank and what appeared to be solid blocks of iron move simultaneously forward. Look below and see slender tubes running into the metal blocks. Within these tubes hydraulic power is at work, irresistibly drawing forward the blocks which now have pressed all round the iron tyre, squeezing it firmer and firmer onto the wooden wheels. The pressure is relaxed, and a completed wheel is lifted up. To make sure the tyre is lightly trimmed and subjected again to pressure. Users of wheeled vehicles will not require to be told what a great boon that machine confers on them.

"In the cart and carriage building department numerous vehicles are being made up. Common carts, hay carts, lorries, vans, dog-carts and other vehicles are in various stages of completion. One specialty of the firm should have to be noted. It is called a HAY-RICK LIFTER, and transfers bodily the hay-rick from the field at a single effort. Constructed like a bevelled lorry, the bottom of the lifter rests on the ground, the ropes are put round the rick, a handle at each side pulls the ropes tighter and tighter, dragging the rick on to the floor of the lifter, which is backed slowly under it. Contrasted with the old hay fork, this lifter is a great advance. In these works genuine labour is done, and an interesting industry is carried on. So much may be said safely.

"Messrs Alexander Jack and Sons have many medals and trophies and on all sides appear to have attained high position in their special line of business. Agriculturalists have instituted shows for horses and cattle, and awarded medals and prizes for excellence; they have carried the principle into the implement yard. The practice is an admirable one; for the rough test of the market is not always fair".