Mitchell Reel Forum

You're welcome. Everyone has their favorite Mitchell that they want to keep going. Fortunately, most can rebuild them for that purpose. The 1st ones and extremely rare would be difficult to impossible to get certain parts for to keep them original.
Kim

Last night and this AM after I pressed the submit button an ERROR page popped up. I resubmitted and when I checked the thread 2 identical posts were there. Went to edit and removed the extra identical post. This am after the error page popped up, I went straight to the thread and my post was there. ...

No problem, Bill. Many companies are bought out and the name stays due to popularity. The only way to let them know is replying to their questions on this site. That's how they will learn the difference. Wallace had a discussion of the/a Mitchell reel that was newly released in limited quantities. A...

Your last photo has the serial number on the top "arch". Your version started circa., 1958 according to Dennis Roberts Value Guide. Missing the " A Garcia Product" sticker above the handle. Not uncommon for that to happen. Also, yours has the later version 3 prong drag. It should...

I messed up on the picture posting. After writing your message scroll down and look left. You will see attachments there. Press and it will take you to your folders in your computer. Click on file button with picture you want posted and it will be here. You can preview and look at picture before pos...

Bill, The reel in question is for the newer Mitchell, not the ones we study/discuss here. After Pure Fishing bought them out. The parts are available if you need them. Probably Dick J or other sellers with large volume of parts. Possibly the "BAY". Calcagni3, not sure if you had typed in t...

Congratulations on your find. Not many people find everything together. Take several good pictures of box, reel & paperwork. Resize your pictures to 800 megapixels. Look for brown icons above where we type in message. Click on the one that looks like a small picture. If you hold your cursor ther...

Excellent information previous posts. Was wondering why you want/need 10lb test line for your reel. What fish are you targeting and size/weight of fish you intend to bring in? Thanks.
Kim

Welcome to the site. There have been discussions on this before. Probably buried in some thread here. Everyone has their own opinion. I use marine bearing grease and light weight oil, applied with a small brush. You don't need a lot of grease either. Just be careful when taking reel apart. Many smal...

Congratulations, and Welcome to the site. Without pictures positive ID may be difficult. 1/2 bail or full bail. Number under foot or on body opposite handle? Chevron anti-reverse metal handle knob or black plastic one? Pictures would help. No more than 800 megapixels.
Kim

Welcome to the site. It boils down to what fish you are targeting. Saltwater surf fishing I use up to 14lb test. Freshwater anywhere from 6lb to 12lb test. A properly set drag and working the fish will give you better results that the biggest line.
Kim

Great pictures Bill. Yes, those tools command a big premium. Missed several chances years ago on the bay. Most people improvise and make some tools to suit their needs. Good Luck..........
Kim

I can't take credit for those rods. Not mine but a picture of them offered to me. I was able to acquire around 6 but can't remember. Hope is well with you.............
Kim

Welcome ORR. Size picture to no more than 800 pixels. (mega pixels?) Make sure you can upload them from a device. Computer, phone. After typing your message bottom left by options is attachments. Click and follow prompts. YOU WILL NOT SEE YOUR PICTURE(S) until after you hit send. Or hit preview. Goo...

cakoeh, Thanks for the post and pictures. You got my curiosity going so I visited my stash in the cellar. Located a boxed 309s with paperwork. Pamphlet has 6 different languages printed on it for instructions and such. It also came with the authorized repair shops/dealers in the US. Apparently, both...

The Abu-Garcia reels copying Mitchell aren't that bad of a reel. The advantage they have over Mitchell is they can be converted from left to right hand wind very easily. I don't know anyone that sells parts for them and can't give accurate comment on repair parts in case one needs to be repaired. Kim

You could say they're somewhat rare because they were made for release in Germany. Less people there versus the US and Canada. Came with earlier and later style bail. Earlier style bail rarer since less were made. If you had the box with matching numbers, it would a highly collectable package. Kim

Thank you for posting. I saw the 1,000,000 reel Mike Read purchased at the Daytona NFLCC in 2011. IMHO it's the best-looking Mitchell out there. I've seen the fully engraved ones, but the colors on this are truly amazing. I see it has the grooved bail trip too.............. Kim :text-goodpost: :text...

One thing I forgot to point out is your reel is the same as the Garcia Mitchell 440 reel. Just different markings and distribution.
Kim

Welcome to the board. We mainly discuss Mitchell reels here. Since you want to know who made green salt spinners, that would be Penn. Collectors and users call them "greenies". There are sites that deal in all spinners and Penn only. You will have better luck to do more research there. By ...

Welcome to the sight. You have a very desirable reel. It is a Left-Hand reel to begin with. Many people confuse right and left-hand terms. A right-handed person cranks the reel with their left hand and HOLD the pole with their right hand. So, the reel is a right-hand reel. I know that can be a littl...

It appears to be an optical illusion. The left reel's rotor is in a position where it is completely laying down flat on the table. The right reel's rotor is in a position where the bail "unit" is supporting it up from the table higher than the left making the stem appear bent in comparison...

I don't know how to improve drag unless you go from fiber to Teflon. Mitchell worked off the same basic design from the early years to the later years. Why do you want to improve it?? Problems with what you have? Can't compare them to the newer drag systems but the older reels will last you a lifeti...

Welcome to the site. The spools for the 300 & 400 series are interchangeable. I use the shallow spools like you want to, to save on line. Don't fish that deep so it works for me. Depending on when your reel was made it would have the 4 0r 3 prong drag. 1966 had the 4 prong drag whereas 1968 and ...

Glad you like the 324. The rotor turns gray because it's made of plastic because the reels were made for this side of the pond. The European released ones are metal rotors.
Kim

As far as rotors interchanging, I don't know. Maybe experiment???

Agree with GreatLaker. Cleaning is the way to go. You should also get a period correct spool for the right reel. The 3-prong drag was not made until the early 1970's. Almost all spools are interchangeable except to certain reels. Good Luck...........
Kim

OK, I did some research and came up with this. Your "G" reel is 1977. According to Dennis Roberts Value Guide your reels are later 2nd version. Roller line guide and big knobbed handle counterweight. 1st versions had the tungsten line guide and smaller smoother counterweight. Early 2nd ver...

Very nice......... How does it spin? Did you lube it? I purchased a few NOS reels years ago before realizing the serial number was not on it. Wasn't too expensive so I let it slide. Kim I noticed the handle is for the European released Mitchells. No High Speed decal on the shaft. Still a nice reel.

There are other reels that use the bail bumper. A version of the 306 comes to mind. Easy to tell because of the small hole in the bail wire where the bail meets the stop. I think also the 402 reel as well.
Kim

Hello Syd,
The 300C means the reel has bearings in the handle side plate and I believe something different inside. I never really pursued the difference because I never looked to buy them.
Kim

Hey Schrack. If the reel has 3800 on it, then you have a reel made for Garcia. The handle can be mounted on either side. It's smaller than the Mitchell 300. About the size of a 308. Not bad reels actually. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Kim

Site double posted. Kim

OK, I'm going to take another stab at it. First off, I checked Dennis Roberts Value Guide on the 440 DL. It was listed in his book but not an actual picture of the reel. Made for a select client according to Dennis. Now we know those chrome parts were given a gold coat for the 440, so it's not too m...

From what I could tell someone bought gold parts or had them plated and put onto the reel for their own use. A lot of wear to those parts. From the other reels you have posted the Rapid would be the rarer one.
Kim

From what I could tell someone bought gold parts or had them plated and put onto the reel for their own use. A lot of wear to those parts. From the other reels you have posted the Rapid would be the rarer one.
Kim

RobCFish, If you are using your phone to upload pictures you would need a resizing app on your phone to shrink the pictures pixels. I use Photoresizer. Take pictures of your reel. Pull up app and load pictures to resize 1 by 1. 750 pixels max. Come here to leave message and pictures. Follow prompts....

I'd say you did EXCELLENT on that outfit. Where did you look for the reel serial number?? On the foot underneath is the number. You may have to clean some crud off. Plus, a little talcum powder in the numbers will make it easier to see. Mitchells were made in France and I'm unaware of US patents on ...

Yes, torpedo handle and high speed on handle side.
Kim

Bill,
Those boxes were all marked special. I'm staring at a Special Handle Cat. 849-L L.H. with red box. CODE- 9224. It is a high-speed handle and has the notch in the end.
Kim

Here is picture of box. Handle still inside.

I did a quick search and located this bail spring for the 406 reel you have. Kim https://duckduckgo.com/y.js?ad_domain=ebay.com&ad_provider=bing&ad_type=prad&eddgt=c4z2O849agtzdqa7ni_Krg%3D%3D&rut=d2574341aa4f287ebcee38b4e79222f3bb04bca1f906ebd3ff25f327e97ddd24&u3=https%3A%2F%2Fw...

Matthew, Welcome to the site.. :text-welcomeconfetti: If there is no serial number even very faint on the bottom of the foot you can check another location. Looking at the non-handle side of the reel, setting down with the foot pointing up check at the top side of the reel. There should be a serial ...

Welcome Kevin......... Not many people here collect or know about those type of Mitchell multiplying reels. Not an expensive reel and the side plates are prone to cracking. Good Luck in your search......
Kim

Good story. I was wondering when you purchase those parts, install them, then crank the handle will the rotor turn in the direction you need it to to reel in line????
Kim

From my understanding reading Dennis Robert's Value Guide, it has something to with the anti-reverse mechanism. Probably silent reverse. More knowledgeable people should know..........
Kim

1st of all :text-welcomeconfetti: to the site. Do some searching here as it will be leaving here and going to FB. The 307 is a left-handed version of the 306. Heavy duty freshwater and intermediate for salt water. Not sure where you can get a schematic. I have some but what is the date on your reel?...

I went to FB and joined the Museum group. Quick and easy. Many others have done the same. By the way, I'll try and remember to sign out with my name after posting. I use my wife's FB account and never opened one myself. She never uses it so I kinda took over.......
Kim

Agree with Wallace. Finding out more history on Mitchell other than just the reels...............
Kim

Thanks for all the information you've shared with us and creating a fantastic site. It will be sorely missed. When you close this down and we don't catch your new site on FB how will we be able to find it there? Thanks again.

Kim

Welcome to this site :text-welcomeconfetti: I checked Dennis Roberts Value Guide (2006) and he had it valued at $200 - $325 back then. the values have dropped some since then. If you have the reel, box and paperwork you can start from there. That is a very low numbers produced reel. Circa 1985 - 86....

I'm glad to see Wallace has been here answering questions. Unless I'm mistaken the handle on your reel is not correct for the time period of your reel. The plastic nut end and circles on the shaft part of the reel was made years later than the right one. It shouldn't be too hard to find the correct ...

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