Excellent, definitive post.

I can't help as I don't have examples of these reels.

Clearly, Carpano thought they were different and Joy van Hengst highlighted a small difference.

If I had these reels, I would look at the gears and check diameters and the number of teeth.

According to the production records, the "S" suffix was used on several models including the 300, 400, 306 and 308 from 1982 -86. These reels all had a skirted spool. The "S" suffix was used on the 304 from 1970 -73 and this reel was made alongside the regular 304 for just over 2...

Dear John, I agree that it is good to see this reel make a decent price as it indicates that the hobby is back in good health. Prices have been subdued over the last 10 years or so but the last 3 sales I know of have been at what I consider to be realistic prices. This is good for the hobby as reali...

Anyone looking for a nice MK1 reel could check with Ebay France.

Listing number 256039426600 is for a nice reel being offered by a leading French collector.

It's well worth a look.

Dear John, Dating reels has been a thorny subject for a long time and perhaps adds a little spice to the hobby. Personally I dislike the unpleasantness that there has been in the past. Having researched the subject thoroughly, I have my own views and others are free to believe what they wish. I supp...

As Bill rightly points out there are different views on dating and there has been a good deal of confusion and controversy. I very much appreciate and agree with the tone of Bill's comments : there is no reason for people to fall out over this. George Saul and I spent a good deal of time researching...

Dear John, Your spool seems to have a flat base and release knob with flattish top so I think it is early and originated with a late MK1 or a MK2 reel. I can't see a spacer. As you say, the notch was used inconsistently and was eventually phased out, so it couldn't have been regarded as important. I...

Dear John, The notches are not something I had ever considered, but your query prompted me to look through what I have here. I am no wiser!! I have several of the first spools which incorporate a spacer, and none of these are notched. This made me wonder if the notch was to indicate that a spacer wa...

As a matter of interest I attach schematics dated 1977, 1980 and 1986.

The book that you show by Dennis Roberts is a 2 volume set of which 12 copies were produced for friends of Dennis. It was never offered for sale by DR. It was intended to be a living 3 volume set, but this never happened. I am fortunate to own one set, which originally belonged to Barry Frewing. A g...

In his book "Les Moulinets Mitchell" published in 1999 Luc de Medts wrote "l'annee comptable commencait au 1/09 pour se terminer au 30/09" : the accounting year started on 1/09 and ended on 30/09. I have found no evidence to support this suggestion. If the year began on 1/09 it w...

Dear John, Paul and Simone (I nearly wrote George and Ringo !!),

I'm very pleased that you enjoyed the book and found it informative.

My very best wishes to you for your future collecting. If I can ever be of assistance, please let me know.

Warm regards,

Rolands Babulis.

Dear John,

The signature rod which Edward sold was one of mine !! He's sold most of my cane rods. I'm in my seventies so it's time to let some things go.

I will be looking at early Mitchells next.

Yes, email me and I might be able to help you and Paul on the book front.

Regards,

Rolands.

Dear John, The email is a mystery. I used an address for you from memory and as neither was returned to me I assumed you received them. Let's put it behind us. All collectors have to prioritise when it comes to making buying decisions. I agree that most Mitchell books are far too expensive, but they...

My friend Mike DiMattio suggests in his book that Fair Traded was stamped on boxes sent to the US until 1958.

John Fishkat figured it all out when we did some joint research several years back. I don't have the detail to hand now, but it was a trading arrangement that resulted from WW2.

My first line was jocular, note the exclamation marks. I have been the subject of hostility for several years hence my remarks. You clearly copied my post before I edited it. You will note that the final paragraph was removed because I thought you might take it the wrong way. A new collector can be ...

You are welcome to have a dig at me !! this has been going on for over 5 years, so I am used to it. The words prototype, test and pilot are in common usage and there are dictionary definitions. A prototype would not be made in large numbers and sold to the public. As a serious collector I own and ha...

What exactly is a prototype? One dictionary definition is "One of the first units manufactured of a product which is tested so that the design can be changed if necessary before the product is manufactured commercially". This is how I think of a prototype : others may disagree. I recall De...

I also have 2 of the very first "B" numbered hoop bails complete with required rotors and baffle plates. Both have the normal pitch angle. One has the long stem; the other the short stem. I have never seen any evidence to suggest that the first "B" numbered hoops were anything ot...

A group of us looked into these changes a couple of years back. The stem was increased in length from roughly 2 - 2.25 inches on some MK3 reels shortly before serial numbers were introduced : probably late 1951.The change was introduced gradually as moulds were renewed, so both lengths were used sim...

Dear Simone,

Many thanks for the kind comments and I am pleased that you found the book useful.

Warm regards,

Rolands.

Yes, for my sins. The book is 180 pages with 450 photos and illustrations. Limited to 25 copies, some of which are already sold. Inevitably the book has needed regular revision as new information has come to light. That said, I have no plans to print any more. Returning to the question of spools, I ...

There is a lot of pleasure to be had from collecting and studying early Mitchell reels and I envy those new to the hobby : you have a lot of fun ahead of you. I would just mention that the third edition of "The Early Years Of The Mitchell Fishing Reel" is now available in limited quantity....

Dear Bill, I agree with you entirely. In my opinion the very first spools have a spacer and 24 teeth on the clicker gear and this is what I would expect to find with an early first reel. However, as you rightly point out other permutations can exist because we are talking about mass produced items w...

The first spools are easily identified. The clicker gear has 24 teeth as opposed to 20 on later spools. The first spools were too short and a spacer ring had to be incorporated. Collectors need to classify reels for the purpose of identifying rarity, desirability and value. The easiest way is to gro...