l have attributed this pair of tongs to James Wiburd, l cannot be at all sure that they are his as "Grimwades" has this mark in the "unregistered section" it could may also be attributed to John Weldring. This mark was registered in 1763
James Wiburd was apprenticed on the 10th September 1741, appears as a plateworker in the Parl.report list 1773 as having entered a mark before this date, Heal records him as a plateworker in Tooley Street 1766-73
John Weldring no record of apprenticeship or freedom, appears as a plateworker opposite St Clements Church, Strand, in the Parl. report list 1773 as having entered a mark before that date.
Looking through the bucklemakers marks, the only one which fits for the years is James Webb, but the only mark recorded with a pellet is a No 2 punch, this is a no 3
These tongs are attractive and very solid, weighing 1.4 troy ozs, they are a large pair with Adam style flowers on the well designed Bow, they have a styilised engraving of J M L
l have put on here the mark from "Grimwades" and the makers mark from the tongs.