Dating Mitchell Reels By Serial Numbers

Introduction

First and most important, the Classic Egg-Shaped models I’ve found to be in the same Serial Number (SN) sequence are the Mitchell 300/301, 300C/301C, 300DL/301DL, Otomatic, 330/331, Rapid, 350/351 400/401, 410/411, 410DL, 440/441, 440/441 Match, Garcia Mitchell Match (no 440/441 engraved), 500, 510 and 540 spinning reels.

Other models starting production after 1970 were also included in the same serial number sequence. Though most vintage Mitchell spinning reels have oval shape bodies; my purpose for identifying these reels as Classic Egg-Shape is very simple. They all have the same classic “egg shaped” design with a three screw hole cover plate (as seen in the picture above).

This design started with the very first Mitchell reel and continued through all versions of these models plus these all were serial numbered in sequence at the Mitchell factory after assembly regardless of the different models or even which distributor (country) they were made for! Each reel from the beginning of serial numbers to 1976 have unique serial numbers. Duplicate serial numbers have been found after that!

There were certain “events” that happened and documented that helped “date” a change in the reel. Other artifacts and celebrations also documented dates. These are from a continuing spreadsheet study I originally did and self-published in January 2006 called Mitchell ~ Rebirth of a Legend. Because this is not an exact science some may be off but not by much.

Please note that these dates are the approximate date of manufacture at the factory and NOT date of receipt by the wholesaler, retailer or when it was first advertised or purchased that always happened later. Gaps between the serial numbers I give are ones I’ve not found and documented. These gaps in serial numbers could be the year before or after my best estimate.

Please use this as a general dating guide only!

Pre-Serial Numbers

The first four versions of the 300 called “The Mitchell” at the time did not have the 300/301 model number engraved. The first two versions did not have serial numbers at all and the beginning of the 3rd version also did not have numbers. Keeping this in mind:

1st Version – 1939/40 No Serial Numbers but a “unique” #5 is stamped on foot
2nd Version – 1940/46 No Serial Numbers but various stamps on foot
3rd Version – 1946/49 No Serial Numbers but various stamps on foot

Serial Numbers Begin

3rd Version – 1949/52 Serial Numbers first begin within the 3rd version release. These have a letter prefix starting with “A” followed by only 5 numeric digits. The serial numbers were stamped on the bottom of the foot at first but between SN A66544 and SN A74901 it was moved to the Housing. The estimated breakdowns are:

1949/50 – SN “A” Prefix
1950/51 – SN “B” Prefix
1951/52 – SN “C” Prefix
1951/52 was also the transition period from the standard half bail to the 4th version full bail when both reels were being made!

4th Version 1951/52 – SN “C” Prefix was carried over with the transition period occurring in the very low “C” serial number prefix range. The lowest number found on a 4th version was #C00447 but the highest number found on a 3rd version with a prefix was #C03203. The highest number found with this prefix on a 4th version was #C92525. This is when Mitchell realized there wasn’t going to be enough alphanumeric numbers so they changed to just numbers. The lowest SN I’ve documented is #40779 and the highest is #9963012 and over 900 different serial numbers in between and still growing!

1953 – SN 40779 to 203519
1954 – SN 235985 to 617792
1955 – SN 624001 to 1004270 (SN 624001 was the earliest 5th Version I’ve found)
1956 – SN 1040182 to 1517887
1957 – SN 1520736 to 1883288
1958 – SN 1889513 to 2225412 (SN 1889513 was the earliest 6th Version I’ve found)

NOTE: Between SN 1883288 and SN 1889513 marks the beginning of matching Serial Numbers on boxes. It’s also when Carpano and Pons moved the serial number stamp forever back to the reel’s foot.

1959 – SN 2282964 to 2959786
1960 – SN 3067452 to 3579119
1961 – SN 3616448 to 4218719
1962 – SN 4267369 to 4870499
1963 – SN 4918411 to 5494100
1964 – SN 5546867 to 5953668
1965 – SN 5996632 to 6579351
1966 – SN 6656941 to 7276825
1967 – SN 7282575 to 7895887
1968 – SN 7959216 to 8570524 (SN 7959216 was the earliest 7th Version I’ve found)
1969 – SN 8603501 to 9244733
1970 – SN 9295633 to 9963012

When serial numbers were nearing 10 million in 1970, Mitchell reverted back to their alphanumeric serial numbers with letter prefixes but now followed by six numeric digits and not just five as before. This makes it very easy to date these reels by just the serial number letter prefix. This started with the letter “A” prefix and so on:

1971 = A
1972 = B
1973 = C
1974 = D (Matching Serial Number stickers on boxes ended during this year)
1975 = E
1976 = F
1977 = G (SN G018501 was the earliest 8th Version I’ve found)
1978 = H
1979 = I (The letter I was not used to my knowledge due to the similar # 1)
1979 = J
1980 = K
1981 = L
1982 = M
1983 = N
1984 = O (The letter O was used on a few reels but stopped due to the similar # 0) 1984 = P
1985 = Q
1986 = R
1987 = S
1988 = T (The last of the serial numbers. Mitchell closed the factory in 1988/89)
1989 = T (New Old Stock Parts were used to make limited quantities of Mitchell reels that were still being hand assembled in France)

Serial Numbers End

1990 = No serial numbers with few exceptions such as the Mitchell 300 PRO Anniversary that has been documented as one model still being assembled in France however; most models were now being manufactured in Taiwan. The End!