Mitchell Reel Forum

I have been fishing my 331 auto-bail for 15+ years. No issues at all except by the user. Sometimes I forget to move the bail lock 1st time cast and away goes my bait.
Kim

I checked Mike's and he lists the reel which bailarm mentions. I never knew they put stickers on a Match box for the ALC to be sold in. Not surprized as I have other "stickered" boxes. The price seems very reasonable too.
Kim

A good quality lube in the proper places is all you need. Especially when you service them every year you don't need to overdo it.
Kim

NIB is very hard to come by these days. Definitely worth way more than a used one.
Kim

Congratulations Bill, and welcome to the site. If it were mine the reel would be paired with a Conolon light action 7', 3 stars or above. It will handle almost any freshwater fish you would target. 6 - 8 lb test and a properly set drag will do the job. Remember when going to cast make sure the bail ...

Ted, We never intentionally start out as collectors, just want some reliable reels when the time counts. 5 years down the road, "so what, I have some extra Mitchells to back me up when the time counts". 10 years and more, "yes I know I have more Mitchells than our neighbors, who cares...

Looks Great Ted. From looking at the pictures is your reel color black or midnight blue?? Big difference.
Kim

And yes, why no lube unless someone was smarter than Mitchell engineers??

Same HERE!!!! Hope all you have a great holiday season!!!!!!!!!!!

Kim

Who would know if you cleaned up your space you could locate "lost objects"??? :lol: :lol: :lol: I found the misplaced reel sheet and here goes. Remember these are estimated numbers with reliable intel. Mitchell 330 ( including Garcia ), 771,934 made. Mitchell 331 (Garcia), 8,331 made. Aro...

Ted, The main differences are roller bearing in the handle and rotor for the 410. Actually, high speed version of the 300C. Tungsten line guide 1st version small lettering. circa 1966. Later version circa 1968/69 has roller bearing in line guide, improved anti-reverse on the housing with larger lett...

The 331 was produced in less quantities than the 330. The lefthanded Mitchell reels were generally made in only 10% of the righthanded ones. I have a list of the number of Mitchells made somewhere around here but can't locate it right now. I also fish with a 331 and have a backup. You might try the ...

Welcome to the site. There are many reels made for saltwater usage. A good size list. I will only put righthanded ones here, lefthand crank. 302, 302N, 316, 382, 386, 396, 402, 486, 488, 496, 498. There are variations of these reels, but they have these numbers in them. Now the 306 is an intermediat...

All I can say it is a very rare reel. Not the Rarest BUT ranks right up there. People thought it was a ghost reel until credible info came to play. Dennis Roberts, Value Collectors Guide 2006 has it for distribution in the US & Canada. Extremely rare. One of the few reels to have and admire. I h...

I fish with what I talk about and Conolon poles. If it's not Mitchell it stays pout of my hands!!!!!!!! Good fish so far....
KIm

Rockape, what auto-bail are you referring to?
Kim

Thanks guys, that's what I was trying to remember from memory.
Kim

Don't have a 316 but someone here probably does. Stay patient and let them help.
Kim

I believe it has to do with commodities between 2 countries' when traded. You can't gouge me but at the same time want to buy my stuff cheaply.
Kim

Also, I think fair traded boxes were intended for North America distribution.

I didn't know the bail assemblies came with bumpers???
Kim

Nobby, I didn't mean the 400's came with a black bumper. My fault if misunderstood. Another reel had a black bumper. I know the 406/407 had a black band for the bail to keep it quiet when closing. I'll have to dig into my service manuals to find what reels had those bumpers. Thanks.
Kim

david, those bail bumpers are very scarce. Came in red and black colors. I remember someone was selling them but can't place where. Maybe EB? Only seen a handful in years of collecting. Good Luck in your search.
Kim

I usually post pictures from my phone. Have an android that I downloaded a free ap. Photo & Picture Resizer. Blue squares in color. After taking a picture to post online I open the ap and pick picture to be resized. Resize and delete the 1st picture. Then do as this post by Wallace to put pictur...

Welcome to the site. Not my forte either. Dennis Roberts Collectors Guide has the CAP inscribed reels dated 1956 - 1955. After that Garcia was inscribed on the cover. Now I do know that C.A.P. was in raised letters opposite handle side but not sure of years. Does your reel have the full bail or the ...

There may be other ways to identify boxes. If you look at the front of the boxes in the pictures, they are not all the same. Different printing blotched out letters or numbers mean different years of release. For instance, the 1st pictures here has a price on the box of $32.50. My picture has it at ...

Welcome to the group!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is your reel a 1/2 bail or full bail? 1/2 bail looks like a curved claw. The thing is if you remove the bail spring on a full bail you can close it manually and have the trip secure it down but when you open the bail you will have to manually open bail trip and have...

Finally, home from work. Pics are from my phone that I have an app to downsize pixels. Not including Saltwater Reel top reel is as Mike has in his book, 1st issue, 2nd label fall of 1955. Next picture 2nd issue, last (8th) label spring 1959. The "Salt Water" reel appears to be spring 1959,...

Well, I'm going to try and upload some red boxed reels.
Kim

: IMG_20221011_185955875_copy_713x572.jpg (146.27 KiB) Viewed 11138 times

It's gone now. Unfortunately, people will visit here and peddle their crap. The moderators are on top of it as soon as they see it. Noone can be here 24/7.
Kim

Harvey, that falls in line with Mike's findings. I checked took pictures of my red boxed Mitchells and will post them here.
Kim

WOW, Great pictures!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for posting them. I looked in my Mitchell 300 Boxes Book by Mike DiMattio and compared your box labeled front with his findings. He has it 1st issue, 4th label, fall 1957. What is they serial number of your reel? 7 digits? Starting with 1? Kim :text-goodpost: :t...

We know that over the years Mitchell lightly stamped or not complete stamping of serial numbers on the bottom of the foot. Since you "dated" to around 1978-1979 it is quite possible the right side of an H. Seems to make sense.
Kim

Welcome to the site harvey... As I understand it left-hand reels, right-hand crank were made around 10% of the "right-hand" reels. Here is an example. Full bail 300 production from approx. 1951-1986 was 13,128,960. Whereas the 301 for same years was 1,335,253. As you can see much lower num...

As far as I can tell, it is a 330 Ottomatic. Screw up from factory. Stamped way too low. My

Kim

More valuable because your grandfather owned it. Condition is everything. Pictures of reel and serial number would help. 700-800 pixels. Any letter before the numbers??
Kim

400/401 basically same as the 400/401 except for roller bearings and I believe a few other minor details. High speed version of the 300/301. Same line capacity as the 300/301. They use the same spool but drag nut and washers are different from the early ones to the 1970's.
Kim

The 306, 307 would be the next in line. They referred to it as an intermediate reel.
Kim

Pictures would help. No larger than 700 - 800 pixels. More than likely a typo from Mitchell that escaped the factory. They did make a 320 but that is not an egg-shaped reel like the 300, 400 and 500 series.
Kim

Tell us exactly what information you need for those models. You will get a quicker response.
Kim

Thanks for extra pictures. I see the whole story. YOU definitely have a GM330. BUUUUTTTT a little on the rare side. The engraved side plate SHOULD HAVE NEVER LEFT the factory!!!! The engraving is SCREWED UP!! Does not have 330 as it should be engraved as others. Something went wrong at the engraver'...

Is that inscribed on the side plate?? Doesn't look like any Mitchell engraving I have ever seen. Back the picture up some more to show position of engraving on reel.
Kim

Good question. I always thought it was a surf reel. While looking through Dennis Roberts Value Guide on page 165 he mentions Mitchell called it a Salmon reel with new handle design. Maybe others who collect this reel will offer their thoughts. With a deep spool to hold more line I don't see why you ...

I don't know much about those reels. There are people here with that knowledge. Did do a search and in the different seller's write-up they mentioned 314 & 315 planamatic ring. Maybe contact a Mitchell parts seller and ask.
Kim

Whatever you feel like doing. Mint in Box I would display it and locate back-ups. Plenty are out there. Is the yellow insert with the box? Plus, the paper tag on the side, still there and matches the reels serial number? All important to consider. Good Luck............
Kim

You need to resize your photos to 800 - 700 pixels. Then upload all you want.
Kim

Pictures would help. No more than 700 - 800 pixels. I myself have never heard of red lines painted on back of spool. Maybe owner could identify it was his if someone took it? Or the color could represent the pound test of the line on the spool? Hope this helps.
Kim

WOW, Bill!!!!!!! Excellent booklet you have there. My guess on age would the late 1950's due to several listed "availables". Ultra-small spool, Mitchell Companion Pole, 350 and left-handed to name a few. Thanks for posting it!!!!

Kim

Has me stumped too Ted. Only logical answer would be you stated. Pictures speaks volumes. 3 possibilities. 320, 325 or 316. Maybe dirty around the stamping which would cause confusion. Describing the size or spool shape would help also...........
Kim

Ted is right but I believe you have another number or 2 in front of the zero. Maybe a letter. According to Dennis Roberts Value Guide letters were 1st used for serial numbers around 1971 through 1990. Not counting the early 300 series. So, if your reel doesn't have a letter, it would be safe to say ...

Yes, that is correct for up-side-down Mitchell on side plate. Eventually Mitchell corrected the problem to right-side-up..........
Kim

Welcome to the fascinating and infuriating world of Mitchell. Most dates can be confirmed but no records were kept through the years. :text-welcomeconfetti:

Kim

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