James Bult was apprenticed to James Stamp & was turned over to James Sutton with whom he registered a mark on 4^th October 1782, as plate-workers. He registered a mark with Samuel Godbehere & Edward Wigan on 15^th March 1800, as S Godbehere & Co. The partnership lasted until 16th September 1818 when Godbehere & Bult registered a mark on their own. On 13^th July 1819 James Bult registered his own mark. He became a banker some time before 1841 and died in 1843.

One can never be sure about the maker’s mark “IB”. I have ascribed these tongs to James Bult because he is the most likely maker of this date as they are dated 1820/21.