James & Fred Howard of Bedford, later known simply as Howards, were one of the smaller English makers of agricultural machinery and steam traction engines. At The Great Exhibition of 1851 they exhibited a range of horse-drawn implements. After World War I, Howards became part of AGE, Agricultural & General Engineers, along with many of the other British makers of similar machinery. In 1932 F.C. Hibberd acquired the goodwill of the company and the company moved to Park Royal, London, and began manufacturing locomotives there.