Mitchell Reel Museum Discussion Group

BoFinn, to the Mitchell Reel Museum. You've come to the right place for all things vintage Mitchell spinning reels!

Unfortunately, there is no documented dating chart for the 302 series. Though, if you provide the serial number stamped onto either the bottom of the foot (six or seven numerals) or the back plate (starts with A, B, C or D followed by five digits), we can get close to yr of manufacture...photos work too...

Sandman

Chris, what a fantastic find and addition!!...to find this early of a Salt Water in box, with manual, in such good condition, is a very rare find...I believe it deserves its own topic. I'll place as much info as possible in this thread in attempt to have it all in one topic.

The straight arm bail mount is the first version of the SW full bail. The crank handle seems period correct too. Just need to verify there is a shoulder on the screw mount. Below is a link to a topic I posted after studying these early crank handles.

viewtopic.php?f=65&t=6090

Coincidentally, I found a very similar boxed SW of the same period earlier this year (A19913). Below is what I posted in an earlier post you may of read. Though, maybe not in quite as good of overall condition as yours, it did however, come with the original crank handle tag, showing "New in 1955". You can read my dating thoughts that would also apply to your reel, which indicate these reels were produced in 1954 for the 1955 "Season" of about 9/1/54 - 8/1/55. They were, afterall, withing the first 20,000 SW reels produced.

Sandman

Post subject: Re: Show Your ReelsPostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 10:28 am
Mates, thought I'd share a recent add...A Salt Water, A19913 with box, crank handle tag, straight bail arm and uncommon "stepped" Garcia sticker.

The reel is in excellent used condition. Has some minor paint loss, just a little around the rotating head lip and very little on the foot tips from mounting. No corrosion on the chrome or under the paint. Never been taken apart, all original grease (I can see the amber grease through the lube port) which is the only thing I will take apart of the main body. As suspected, it cranks a little stiff, but not bad. I did remove the bail assembly, cleaned and lubed. Overall, a little used reel, could not get much better without being MIB or NOS (which Chris Sh. seems to have found).

The box is whole, but a bit rough. I did put some of the insert back together. This version is prior to the fish label on the side, so all sides are solid blue.

No manuals or cards, but did come with the crank handle tag. This is likely the first version of this tag, since it states "New Model". Am curious if anyone has seen (or owns) this crank handle tag. It was likely produced for the entire first full year run, production year 1954 of about 25000 reels.

The serial number and handle tag, per Christian's dating chart, indicate this reel was produced in late 1954, during the 1955 production year. I suspect the "New Model" was to indicate either the Salt Water was a new model, assuming the half-bail was only a "test run" of the same reel and not yet considered a new model, or to distinguish the full bail verison of this reel as a new model vs the half bail. Not sure which?

I've not seen this early of Salt Water reel in this good of condition with box, nor have I seen this crank handle tag. I've also rarely seen a "straight" bail arm with no corrosion. These bail arms were produced until about 32000 reels, at which time they transitioned to "bumper" bail arms. To find one with box, to me, is pretty extraordinary. I'm hoping other mates may have earlier and nicer versions they can share photos (and now somebody does)...

Sandman

Other Early SW Characteristic Changes:

1 Bigfoot offered from 1953 - 1974 as option and maybe Europe only.
2 No SN lower than 1000
3 302 model number engraving began around A93xxx
4 Straight bail arm with the straight wire, to the straight bail arm with the bent wire, to the cushioned bail arm with the bent wire (per Randy)
5 Christian Llhemite - the Salt-Water right handed was produced 2802 copies in 1953 and 25090 in 1954 (I believe this refers to calendar year production)
6 The Salt-Water left-handed was first produced in December 1954 to 312 copies.
7 Salt-Water 1955 LHW = 28148
8 Salt Water 1955 RHW = 7664

Guys,
I spent the day trying to resurface a sidewalk in front of the house, and I admit my nerves were in high gear, even with a tranquilizer.
This is exactly what I needed to have a set down, view some beautiful Mitchells, and get all the associated information about them, too.
After viewing this, I'm sure my blood pressure dropped 20 points.

Regards,
Ted Lanham

Ted, hope the flatwork came out well...I'd probably crack a cold one after a day like that...

Chris, couple other thoughts:

1) The all blue box with no attached paper "Fish" label are very rare. Maybe more rare than the reels that came in them...probably transitioning about the same time as the straight bail arm to bumper bail arm occurred. Though the earliest Fish label box I have recorded is A43xxx.

2) Do you mind checking from how the axle is attached to the oscillation slide? screws or clips? You can see this through the grease port vs disassembling.

3) Do you mind checking the axle nut? Hex or spanner? The transition was somewhere in this range..

Thanks Chris, and congratulations on acquiring such rare package in exceptional condition.

Sandman

There may not be an earlier SW reel that is that clean (unused)...a museum piece...

Crank Handle: The crank handle is original. It matches my A19913. It has the early smaller shoulder.

Oscillation Slide: The oscillation slide axle clips also match my A19913. I have an A18008 that has screws that attach the slide, so transition was likely just before your reel.

Garcia Sticker: The first stickers were arched, then stepped (what I call them), then Oval. The earliest "stepped" I've recorded is A12xxx and no arched after that.

Bare Aluminum A/R Lever: I've recorded 23 aluminum levers through A09324, then they transition back and forth (between alum and black) through A18008, which is that last aluminum A/R I've recorded that seems original to the reel. I'd like to record more of these to make assumptions less questionable, but trends are beginning to take shape from the data that I have.

Your A24231: Two schools of thought here, 1) This reel is all original and it was put together from earlier stock (at least the face plate) at a later time, hence the later SN, or, 2) The original face plate has been swapped with an earlier reels face plate. I've not found an alum A/R with any sticker other than the arched sticker and again, no arched stickers passed A09324. The earliest stepped I've found is A12xxx. You may be able figure this out by looking at the oscillation slide fastening. If screws, the parts (maybe whole reel) are/is from a much earlier reel with a later serial number (assembled later). If clips, its likely a replaced face plate, or at least the face plate is from earlier parts...

Beautiful reel and box,
Sandman

Mates, adding to this 302 topic.

Acquired this one recently. Not in excellent condition, but has some interesting characteristics and any reels in any condition this early in the Salt Water production are difficult to come by. That said, it does have all original parts and after a complete clean up, it runs amazingly smooth, as anticipated. Of course as with all of these early SW reels, the crank handle hits the bale about every fifth revolution..hence the addition of the deeper handle shoulder on later reels.

Serial# A06248. This is only the eighth reel I've recorded in between the latest SW half bale (A03682) and this serial number, making it a very early straight bale arm (full bale). This is early 1954 production.

Arched sticker: This is only the fifth Arched sticker I've seen or recorded. They range from A05360 - A06275. The next sticker, "Stepped", or "Finger point" began between A06275 - A12358. This gap will need to be narrowed in time as other reels show up. Either way, the Arched sticker was not applied for very long and thus are quite rare. The rarest of the Salt Water Garcia stickers. Probably only applied for a few moths of production in 1954. There is another thread on this, but it seems the Arched sticker was on the 300 for a short period too, but on the CAP/304 for longer...not 100% on that..

Handle: This one has the very rare square ended and slotted counterweight with shoulder. again, this handle was only produced this way for a few months in 1954 when they changed to a round ended and slotted counterweight and shoulder. I've only seen three of these, though Chris Shannon's A19656 may have the sq ended handle.

A/R Lever: This reel has the black plastic A/R lever. It is possible this was changed from the aluminum lever by an owner, as the next earliest plastic A/R lever I've recorded is A09526, otherwise it is the earliest black plastic lever I've recorded.

Any thoughts are welcomed,
Sandman

Bill, good observation. While I have spools with those stickers, I've not noticed the orientation on #3 being opposite all the other schematics (and spools) I've seen. You can view several other schematics in the schematic section on this site.

Note in the yellow spool diagram (and the others you show) there is no steel washer directly under the drag nut which would be in-between the cupped tensioner (#3) and the plastic drag nut. In the 1954-56 schematics there was a steel washer there. I imagine they found that the cupped side of #3 dug into the plastic drag nut and failed to provide the flexible tension, so instead of putting the washer back, they flipped #3 to prevent this but never changed the already printed schematics, just the sticker. All of the spools/reels I've taken the drag assembly apart are from 1953-56, so I did not notice.

Also to note, is that they changed the parts and some order of parts along they way. If you start with the earliest schematic and view through them, you will notice these drag assembly part changes.

Sandman