Neil Paton is recorded by the Edinburgh Goldsmiths as first mentioned 10^th August 1757 and last mentioned in 1795. He was apprenticed to James Gillieland. These tongs are of a heavy construction, bright cut engraved and could be dated c1795. There are no records anywhere of the maker's mark "NP" so we cannot be certain this is actually the maker of these tongs. They are very well made and very heavy, weighing a massive 65 grams.