Mitchell Reel Forum

cakoeh, Thanks for the post and pictures. You got my curiosity going so I visited my stash in the cellar. Located a boxed 309s with paperwork. Pamphlet has 6 different languages printed on it for instructions and such. It also came with the authorized repair shops/dealers in the US. Apparently, both...

The Abu-Garcia reels copying Mitchell aren't that bad of a reel. The advantage they have over Mitchell is they can be converted from left to right hand wind very easily. I don't know anyone that sells parts for them and can't give accurate comment on repair parts in case one needs to be repaired. Kim

You could say they're somewhat rare because they were made for release in Germany. Less people there versus the US and Canada. Came with earlier and later style bail. Earlier style bail rarer since less were made. If you had the box with matching numbers, it would a highly collectable package. Kim

Thank you for posting. I saw the 1,000,000 reel Mike Read purchased at the Daytona NFLCC in 2011. IMHO it's the best-looking Mitchell out there. I've seen the fully engraved ones, but the colors on this are truly amazing. I see it has the grooved bail trip too.............. Kim :text-goodpost: :text...

One thing I forgot to point out is your reel is the same as the Garcia Mitchell 440 reel. Just different markings and distribution.
Kim

Welcome to the board. We mainly discuss Mitchell reels here. Since you want to know who made green salt spinners, that would be Penn. Collectors and users call them "greenies". There are sites that deal in all spinners and Penn only. You will have better luck to do more research there. By ...

Welcome to the sight. You have a very desirable reel. It is a Left-Hand reel to begin with. Many people confuse right and left-hand terms. A right-handed person cranks the reel with their left hand and HOLD the pole with their right hand. So, the reel is a right-hand reel. I know that can be a littl...

It appears to be an optical illusion. The left reel's rotor is in a position where it is completely laying down flat on the table. The right reel's rotor is in a position where the bail "unit" is supporting it up from the table higher than the left making the stem appear bent in comparison...

I don't know how to improve drag unless you go from fiber to Teflon. Mitchell worked off the same basic design from the early years to the later years. Why do you want to improve it?? Problems with what you have? Can't compare them to the newer drag systems but the older reels will last you a lifeti...

Welcome to the site. The spools for the 300 & 400 series are interchangeable. I use the shallow spools like you want to, to save on line. Don't fish that deep so it works for me. Depending on when your reel was made it would have the 4 0r 3 prong drag. 1966 had the 4 prong drag whereas 1968 and ...

Glad you like the 324. The rotor turns gray because it's made of plastic because the reels were made for this side of the pond. The European released ones are metal rotors.
Kim

As far as rotors interchanging, I don't know. Maybe experiment???

Agree with GreatLaker. Cleaning is the way to go. You should also get a period correct spool for the right reel. The 3-prong drag was not made until the early 1970's. Almost all spools are interchangeable except to certain reels. Good Luck...........
Kim

OK, I did some research and came up with this. Your "G" reel is 1977. According to Dennis Roberts Value Guide your reels are later 2nd version. Roller line guide and big knobbed handle counterweight. 1st versions had the tungsten line guide and smaller smoother counterweight. Early 2nd ver...

Very nice......... How does it spin? Did you lube it? I purchased a few NOS reels years ago before realizing the serial number was not on it. Wasn't too expensive so I let it slide. Kim I noticed the handle is for the European released Mitchells. No High Speed decal on the shaft. Still a nice reel.

There are other reels that use the bail bumper. A version of the 306 comes to mind. Easy to tell because of the small hole in the bail wire where the bail meets the stop. I think also the 402 reel as well.
Kim

Hello Syd,
The 300C means the reel has bearings in the handle side plate and I believe something different inside. I never really pursued the difference because I never looked to buy them.
Kim

Hey Schrack. If the reel has 3800 on it, then you have a reel made for Garcia. The handle can be mounted on either side. It's smaller than the Mitchell 300. About the size of a 308. Not bad reels actually. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Kim

Site double posted. Kim

OK, I'm going to take another stab at it. First off, I checked Dennis Roberts Value Guide on the 440 DL. It was listed in his book but not an actual picture of the reel. Made for a select client according to Dennis. Now we know those chrome parts were given a gold coat for the 440, so it's not too m...

From what I could tell someone bought gold parts or had them plated and put onto the reel for their own use. A lot of wear to those parts. From the other reels you have posted the Rapid would be the rarer one.
Kim

From what I could tell someone bought gold parts or had them plated and put onto the reel for their own use. A lot of wear to those parts. From the other reels you have posted the Rapid would be the rarer one.
Kim

RobCFish, If you are using your phone to upload pictures you would need a resizing app on your phone to shrink the pictures pixels. I use Photoresizer. Take pictures of your reel. Pull up app and load pictures to resize 1 by 1. 750 pixels max. Come here to leave message and pictures. Follow prompts....

I'd say you did EXCELLENT on that outfit. Where did you look for the reel serial number?? On the foot underneath is the number. You may have to clean some crud off. Plus, a little talcum powder in the numbers will make it easier to see. Mitchells were made in France and I'm unaware of US patents on ...

Yes, torpedo handle and high speed on handle side.
Kim

Bill,
Those boxes were all marked special. I'm staring at a Special Handle Cat. 849-L L.H. with red box. CODE- 9224. It is a high-speed handle and has the notch in the end.
Kim

Here is picture of box. Handle still inside.

I did a quick search and located this bail spring for the 406 reel you have. Kim https://duckduckgo.com/y.js?ad_domain=ebay.com&ad_provider=bing&ad_type=prad&eddgt=c4z2O849agtzdqa7ni_Krg%3D%3D&rut=d2574341aa4f287ebcee38b4e79222f3bb04bca1f906ebd3ff25f327e97ddd24&u3=https%3A%2F%2Fw...

Matthew, Welcome to the site.. :text-welcomeconfetti: If there is no serial number even very faint on the bottom of the foot you can check another location. Looking at the non-handle side of the reel, setting down with the foot pointing up check at the top side of the reel. There should be a serial ...

Welcome Kevin......... Not many people here collect or know about those type of Mitchell multiplying reels. Not an expensive reel and the side plates are prone to cracking. Good Luck in your search......
Kim

Good story. I was wondering when you purchase those parts, install them, then crank the handle will the rotor turn in the direction you need it to to reel in line????
Kim

From my understanding reading Dennis Robert's Value Guide, it has something to with the anti-reverse mechanism. Probably silent reverse. More knowledgeable people should know..........
Kim

1st of all :text-welcomeconfetti: to the site. Do some searching here as it will be leaving here and going to FB. The 307 is a left-handed version of the 306. Heavy duty freshwater and intermediate for salt water. Not sure where you can get a schematic. I have some but what is the date on your reel?...

I went to FB and joined the Museum group. Quick and easy. Many others have done the same. By the way, I'll try and remember to sign out with my name after posting. I use my wife's FB account and never opened one myself. She never uses it so I kinda took over.......
Kim

Agree with Wallace. Finding out more history on Mitchell other than just the reels...............
Kim

Thanks for all the information you've shared with us and creating a fantastic site. It will be sorely missed. When you close this down and we don't catch your new site on FB how will we be able to find it there? Thanks again.

Kim

Welcome to this site :text-welcomeconfetti: I checked Dennis Roberts Value Guide (2006) and he had it valued at $200 - $325 back then. the values have dropped some since then. If you have the reel, box and paperwork you can start from there. That is a very low numbers produced reel. Circa 1985 - 86....

I'm glad to see Wallace has been here answering questions. Unless I'm mistaken the handle on your reel is not correct for the time period of your reel. The plastic nut end and circles on the shaft part of the reel was made years later than the right one. It shouldn't be too hard to find the correct ...

Earliest would be 1952. And latest date 1955. Probably had a sticker attached to reel faceplate. As you look at the reel body from the picture examine the outer lower rim of body to the right of the foot. I can barely see the serial number stamped there. It would give you a better idea of when it wa...

OK, I'll take a stab at it. I believe you have a Mitchell 302 Saltwater reel pre-Garcia engraved. According to Dennis Roberts Value Guide, Garcia wasn't engraved until circa 1958. Still the same reel but now has Garcia on it for North American distribution. Hope this helps........... Kim Also, befor...

Welcome to the site. According to Dennis Roberts Guides the "S" stands for heavy duty main gear for saltwater application. Hope this helps.....
Kim

I thought that looked familiar. Wife and I visited a Fish Show back in 2008. Lots of Mitchell at very good prices. Talked to a guy that had these. Bought this complete set in box. The idea as stated you buy these in size line for your Mitchell reel. Remove hardware from a spool and put on these. Ful...

Well, I had to use a different Mitchell reel and pole the other day. My normal freshwater poles were 50 miles 1 way to fetch them. Not in the cards. I looked under the spool where I attach a label of line weight and date. For my reference on what size fish to target since Mitchell makes those quick-...

Hello Colin, and :text-welcomeconfetti: ... The reason no one is answering is because this site is geared toward Mitchell spinning reels. The closed face reel you are referring to was probably made after Mitchell left France and made in Taiwan or China. This site doesn't follow Mitchell after I beli...

Welcome to the site!!!!!!! :text-welcomeconfetti: I did a search from Dennis Roberts Value Guide and it falls into the 5th 302 version. Circa. 1956. You posted you found a serial number. It should be stamped on the back end of the side plate between the 2 screws. No Garcia but probably had a glue on...

Hello Jeff and welcome to the board. You probably should have started a new topic on the questions thread. Maybe the administrators could relocate it there. That way people will be able to see your question and answer it quicker. You gave a 7-digit number which would put your reel into the 1960's. M...

Hello Jeff, and welcome to this site. :text-welcomeconfetti: If I'm understanding you correctly you are referring to the avatar symbol you have by your "ID" here. It's a fish logo with Neptunes Trident. That "symbol" means it was sold to be distributed to the European market. As ...

That's new to me. Never knew spools had notches in them. Maybe Wallace's book explains it.
Kim :text-coolphotos:

WOW, Don she's a keeper!!!!! Sweet face and gentile disposition. You can't ask for more. Doesn't look that old and seems housebroken. Now, how will she handle being your new fishing partner????

Kim

Sandman, pretty good. Year is spot on. It is 1st version because of chevron AB lever. 2nd version came with the straight lever. Yes, Euro released but this version came with black knob. According to Dennis 2nd showed up on 1958 when 350 5/1 was etched into the plate version A and Rapid sticker on ro...

My condolences for your loss. It's never easy to do the right thing for your extended family. Knowing you gave them your all and treated them well helps you through. You always know what they thought of you when you walk through the door after being away. That speaks volumes. Time does heal but not ...

Hello, here is another reel I mentioned to post here. Bought from Larry C, Dennis's friend. Purchased together with the Blazer reel back in 2006. Here's some questions and I know the answers. Trying to mix things up here. When did Mitchell release the reel. Date? What reel did it transform into. Wha...

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