Frederic Smagg's outside staircase, Douglas, Isle of Man, 1932-34 (b/w photo)

On the back of this photograph John James Frowde writes, "It is an undoubted fact that Smagg finished off this staircase in its form as seen in the print But, in the 1868 Ordnance Survey there are shewn 'steps up' in the lane against this house. There is no mention of Smagg in Brown's 1880 Directory, although he was a familiar figure to me in the late seventies & the early eighties. He is in the 1894 Directory at this address, as a Range Setter. Grate setting was his staple job, but he was a handy-man, able to tackle any sort of manual job, 'at a pinch'. In Thwaite's I of M Directory there is Fredesric Smagg, 'wellington Sstr., brass founder'. The Fred Smagg I knew, is at 6 Seneschal Lane in Brown's 1894 Directory. Fred was a grate setter. Story of his doing a job of that type for a Mr Gawne, Kentraugh and how Gawne got Magg to get a move on. The fine workmanship of the upper part of the rear window comes out pretty well inthis print and the one following. There is a suggestion of Chippendale's delicate designs in chair backs at one period of his greater eminence."