The Manx records are actually very well covered by Mormon microfilm - William Cubbon in Island Heritage recalls how a visit by a granddaughter of George Cannon, Miss Ann Cannon, in 1926 led in 1949 to the request to microfilm all historically important books in the Record Office. At that time some 250 rolls of microfilm were taken recording some 350,000 separate pages some dating from 1417. It is the availability of these microfilms that allows much research to be done off island - however be warned that many records need considerable experience to read the handwriting. (see http://bighome/famhist/genealgy/refs.htm)