Mitchell Reel Forum

I haven't had the chance to measure it yet, but this is my 602A

Oldfisher, Good job so far but keep going. Ultrasonic cleaners that will remove grease are great. Shims and washers can have a very similar appearance. For the Mitchell 300 think of shims as spacers and washers as washers, LOL. In the case of the Mitchell 300 they are all shims but for one exceptio...

Hello gentlemen, I just wanted to say to each one of you, but I think he did a wonderful job posting and responding! It just can’t get any better than this! Paul, I will tell you directly how impressed I am with your restoration work! I have done a few half bail restorations myself, so I know how m...

Last image.

The Aluvac trademark was for products made at the Fonderie de Precision, Boulevard National, Nanterre, Paris. They also made Solide stylish toy cars an the plastic bodies for Jaz clocks ( Owned by a Carpano family member!) Also parts for Piaggio and Lambretta scooters, I put an image up of the fact...

These reels possibly suggest that the anti-reverse lever was changed before the other changes. Remember 'version' is a thing we created to talk about the reels, whereas Mitchell just talked of 'continuous improvements' saying their were over 500. Hi Bailarm, I recently acquired another early boomer...

Sandman wrote: ↑Thu Oct 19, 2023 6:56 pm I see an old looking head and faceplate, a line guide screw from pre 1963, an A/R lever from pre 1963, a crank handle from the eighties and replacement body (no SN) from the seventies...this reel may span four decades.

Sandman

Lol..I didn't even notice the 80's crank, but yeah!...Four decades!

I just got this 4th verson reel and there are two interesting things about it. The first I noticed is it's serial number, 235892, on a 3rd verson housing. Unless there's been a later sn found since the publication of the book, this is the latest 3rd verson housing. Second, the transfer gear is very...

And just as a side detail on the bail wires that came with these parts, I noticed that the version2 / Mk2 bail wire is thinner than the late 3rd bail wire (I feel confident in designating their Mark or version, because the thinner bail was on a rotor with the indent for RH wind, and the thicker bai...

Rockape, Regarding the slide (#27) or oscillation slide (#81030) as it was later called, evolved over time as did most Mitchell 300 parts. It's very difficult to speculate exactly which material(s) any given part was made of due to the fact that materials changed as I mentioned above, and manufactu...

I have also added a shot of the bodies these parts came with (I also have another like those which again came as a parts project, but I am in the process of trying to find the remaining parts I need to complete a correct spec version 2....may take me some time..lol!). Sorry for hijacking my own thre...

Here are some photos. The brighter one is featherweight alloy and the other looks like case hardened metal; a lot heavier. Both came with version 2 / Mk 2 bodies and version 3 gear plates (obviously a mishmash of parts). And just as a side detail on the bail wires that came with these parts, I notic...

GreatLaker wrote: ↑Fri Oct 20, 2023 7:20 am Rockape,
Are you talking about the slide or the slide guide?

https://mitchellreelmuseum.com/forum/vi ... ddc47#p592

Kind Regards,
Bill

The slide (the moving part that engages with the axle shaft)

I have a box of half bail spares with an alloy oscillator plate in it. Were some made from aluminium / alloy? It is clearly a lot brighter and lighter in weight than my steel ones. To be honest in all the few (13 or so) 'The Mitchell' reels that I have so far stripped and serviced, I don't remember ...

I couldn't edit my post, so I am adding a new comment. I don't know why it didn't click with me straight away, but I am sure you have a replacement 1970's main body, possibly the reel stem/foot of the original was broken or damaged in the 70's and a replacement was bought, which could be why there i...

I have a couple like that , a 300 and a 440. They are both serial numbered on the reel foot; one has a feint D stamp before the number (1974: Midnight Blue Mitchell Match) and the other. 300 has a G stamp (1977). This has perplexed me also, because I have other reels from 1974/5 that do not have the...

Thank you for posting your comparison photos. Yes, the bail wire certainly hss a lot less of a curve to it in your photo, but I think this is creating an optical illusion; have you measured them both? Hopefully, some of our more experienced and knowledgeable members will comment. Glad you managed to...

I thought they were all the same (or similar) length throughout production, albeit bent higher or lower? I am intreagued!?

If possible, can you post a photo of the two reels as a direct comparison please? I am not an expert by the way, but I think it would be helpful to those here that are.

F.T.A.O. Bailarm (and of course all who are interested), Ok, here we go: The paint is RS pro matt black (RS no. 764-3039) and the Lacquer is: TechniQ Glass Clear Lacquer - 1K clearcoat solvent based acrylic, 500ml can (adjustable nozzle, very hard finish, scratch resistant, UV proof and quick drying...

Hello Paul. I'm one of the members here that does the restorations. In looking through your photos. I have one suggestion to help you out. My suggestion is to stop worrying. You did a fine job. Your dad would be proud. Christian Hi Christian, yes we have spoken before on my failed attempts at a ref...

That looks really good. I would love to know what products you used. Most of the advice on here is US based and uses products we just can't get. I can't get to my box of paints and bits at the moment, but I can tell you now that I sanded the reel with fine wet and dry, down to the original orange/r...

In reply to: "I have a 'slightly' bent counter weight section on my rarer round AR knob reel, and I would dearly love to straighten it, but I fear disaster." If you have a handle of collector value, I recommend you pass on the challenge. This is extremely tricky, as I myself have not had ...

Technically, no. The counterweight is held in place by a cross-shaped distortion at the end of the handle. One thing I would add about handle straightening...OK two. 1/. Never do it with cold metal always warm it a little...a good polish will do that 2/. Put the handle knob screw on and the eye can...

These reels possibly suggest that the anti-reverse lever was changed before the other changes. Remember 'version' is a thing we created to talk about the reels, whereas Mitchell just talked of 'continuous improvements' saying their were over 500. Great save on the paint job, I wish I could do that....

Just a little update, To get the restoration as period correct as possible, I bought a couple of cheap..ish reels with broken feet (one had a handle that I needed to get my restored one closer to original; there is more to it than that, but I will save it for now). One was listed as being a second v...

Thanks everyone, for your quite in depth responses (love the wooden clothes peg methods). I now have a more comfortably straight handle shaft (found a small but weighty wooden mallet and a wooden block (no wooden clothes pegs unfortunately). I wouldn't say it was perfect, but it is straight enough f...

Has anyone here successfully straightened out a bent handle on a 50's Mitchell; not the counterweight, but the main shaft? I recently acquired a nice early handle for one of my reels, and it turns out there is a slight curve in it (it's driving my OCD crazy). Someone mentioned heating it up before t...

FusilDarne wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2023 1:38 am I think it looks great. I hope it gets to go fishing from time to time, and brings you joy and memories of your Dad.

Ted

Thank you Ted, it would be a crime not to use it, and yes, great memories.

Paul, The effort you put in to bring this reel back really shows. Congratulations on a job well done. Finding a proper handle for it will take some time, but in the meantime you can enjoy using the reel and no one but us forum members will probably know the difference. My eyes think they see the se...

Oops! I forgot to post a photo of the reel before the refin.

Here:

And the others that didn't load into my first post.

For quite some time now I have been on the verge of breaking down my late father's old half bail Mitchell for spares (mainly because I had so much trouble trying find the right parts for it, not least of all the handle which I had hamfistedly destroyed in an attempt to service it many years ago), bu...

Rockape, I believe both the counterweight screw and the A/R changed around 1962. The A/R stayed the same till 1967. Regards, Ted Lanham Hi Ted, Thank you for answering my question, its good to know that it's all period correct. Thanks to some very kind and knowledgeable enthusiasts (like yourself) ...

Hi everyone, I recently picked up a really nice Mitchell 300 (3-0-0) with a serial number dating it to 1964, and my question is; what was the time span of that angled style of boomerang AR switch, and is the handle in keeping with a 1964 model; when did the counterweight screw type first appear? I m...

Hi Bill, Thank you for your response to my post. Yes, I did mean the axle; I sat there for ages trying to remember the correct term for it, but to no avail..lol! When I first started out collecting examples of the legendary Mitchell 300, I saw a 1956 330 oto on ebay in wonderful condition, and I tho...

Hi everyone, I was taking some group photos of my small Mitchell 300 based reel collection the other day, and one of my nicest examples (though they are all great shape I'm pleased to add), is a 1959 Mitchell 300. In packing them away again, I gave the 59 handle a good winding, and I noticed a sligh...

I would also like to, If I may, add to this review thread of "The Early Years Of The Michell Fishing Reel " by Rolands Babulis. This is my first Mitchell book also, and it is packed with a wealth of information. So where do I begin on what is so obviously the result of a real labour of lov...

Sorry for my late reply Christian. Can't seem to find how to set up thread posting alerts, so I don't miss any relevant additions. That is really kind of you to offer your restoration skills (and you certainly are a very skilled restorer). I'm not sure yet whether to have any of my hslf bails restor...

Hi Kim, I don't remember the exact title now, but it was mainly dedicated to details on the lineage of the Mitchell Match reels (up to the last of the 440A models). I think it included the first 330 reels? My two favorite Mitchell models are the 300, from 'The Mitchell' to the 70's 300's, and the UK...

I have to say, that I would dearly love to own some these wonderful Mitchell books; there is a rare one on the lineage of the auto bail models too which I would love to own, but yes, too expensive for me. Not that I would hesitate to pay the price if I had the personal funds. I love reading referenc...

Yes, beautiful result. I had a go at a restoration a while back, and all was fine until I tried to clear the paint from the 'Mitchell' etching, and small pieces of paint cracked and chipped off ether side of the etched groove (I used a needle to try to get it started), so back to the drawing board. ...

Wow! John, you have a good eye!

Thank you John,

Yes I was very pleased with the overall condition of the reel when I unpacked it (the bail arm still has most of it's original shine too).

Having a LOT of fun collecting and studying these wonderful reels

All the best,

Paul

Hi Bailarm, I just looked over some of my Mitchell servicing photos, and noticed that my 1955 otomatic has the folded edges on the guide plate, but my 1956 model has the same non-folded version, and continuing on through my 70's and early 80's reels, they also have the non-folded type, so it would s...

Having a few issues with trying post photos, please bear with me.

It also has a very small 'V' stamp on the foot.

Don't want to become a nuisance in this thread everyone, so please let me know, but I was keen to post a few images of my latest early 3rd reel. The foundry marks are as expected I guess, but the cover plate does not have much of a mark in the central ejector pin circle (as with my 2nd version). It ...

I just stumbled on this 'old.. ish' thread and when I saw the suggested date of 1958 for the reel that had that odd occilator guide plate, I thought I would check the photos I took when I serviced my 1959 300, and lo and behold... the very same version guide plate!

Everyday's a school day.

Some really interesting information everyone. Thanks to you guys, I am fast learning a lot about these wonderful early Mitchells (just won another early 3rd version on ebay, so I am looking forward to opening that one up too when it arrives). From all I have learned over the past year or so, I don't...

No problem John, glad to help.

Just grabed these quick shots of the back of the rotor, and the locating holes are just visible, see pic:

Search found 73 matches