Argson

Argson was a British manufacturer of invalid carriages and powered tricycles, tracing its origins to a company founded in 1919 by A. R. Garnett and S. O. Needham to produce hand-propelled invalid tricycles. The firm operated as Argson Engineering Co. Ltd in London from 1922, before relocating and continuing as Stanley Engineering Co. Ltd in Egham, Surrey, from 1926 until around 1952.

The company built its first powered vehicle in 1922, a model called the Beaufort, fitted with a 172cc engine of its own design and manufacture. This was followed in 1923 by an electric version powered by a 24-volt battery with three forward speeds. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the company was regarded as one of the largest British producers of invalid tricycles, typically built to the common single front-wheel layout.

During the 1930s, the firm's most widely used engine was the 147cc Villiers two-stroke unit, which powered several of its models, including the Standard, De Luxe, and Runnymede. Its products were aimed primarily at providing mobility solutions for disabled users, an area in which the company built a significant reputation.

In 1949 the company received a substantial order from the Ministry of Health, reflecting its established position in the invalid carriage market. In the early 1950s, the business was acquired by Harper Engineering, which moved production to Exeter Airport and continued manufacturing similar vehicles under its own name, bringing an end to the Argson and Stanley Engineering identity.