Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a tong assembly for handling glass articles such as bottles, jars, and the like during the manufacture of same, utilizes replaceable matched pairs of components that vertically seat and are captured on features on the pair of tongs. The components may be in an interlocking, gravity restrained engagement and that may be replaced by lifting the components out of their interlocking engagement, removing them and replacing same by lowering the replacement components into the interlocking engagement whereby the replacement components are then captured and constrained by pairs of engagement surfaces. Lowering may be by lowering the entirety of the insert or lowering a portion such as the component is rotated into seating engagement. The components may be inserts held in place with the resiliency of spring clips that are themselves retained on the inserts also by the spring clips resiliency.