George Smith II can often be confused with George Smith III but in fact they were two completely different people, unrelated as far as we know.  George Smith III was apprenticed to Thomas Chawner, whereas George Smith II was apprenticed to William Aldridge.  They are further confused because they were both making sugar tongs at around the same time.

George Smith II tongs date between 1758 and 1792

George Smith III tongs date between 1774 and 1786.

Any tongs with the cameo duty mark are almost certainly George Smith II although it is just possible they could be George Smith III if dated between 29^th May 1786 and 2^nd November 1786, (at which time George Smith III went into partnership with William Fearn).

George Smith II entered his first mark some time before 1758 as a small-worker.  He then entered other marks, with many of them as a buckle-maker, up to 1798.  As he went into partnership with Thomas Hayter on 7^th January 1792 it is safe to assume that George Smith II tongs can be dated any time between 1758 and 6^th January 1792.

We have two pairs of unusual tongs to show, because both have "impossible" dates for George Smith II.

Click here to see tongs by George Smith III

Click here to see tongs by George Smith IV

Click here to see tongs by Richard Crossley & George Smith IV