I can't make out a serial number on the foot or housing.
The half bail seems to indicate a 3rd version.
The "Garcia" engraving seems to indicate 1958 or later.
Is the handle knob not a Mitchell part?
Is this reel a collection of parts from several reels?
Also, any recommendations on how to clean the corrosion off the half bail
Thanks for any help.
Help dating Half Bail Reel
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JayMitchell
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu Oct 31, 2024 9:02 pm
Help dating Half Bail Reel
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JayMitchell
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu Oct 31, 2024 9:02 pm
Re: Help dating Half Bail Reel
Here's a picture of the reel foot.
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GreatLaker
- Posts: 262
- Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2021 1:05 am
Re: Help dating Half Bail Reel
JayMitchell, Welcome to the MRM Forum! 
Well what you have there is what you guessed. Another franken reel to stay in the Halloween spirit.
So looks like someone took the cover plate from a later reel (Full Bail) and put it on your half bail. They also added a parts handle. No way to tell what they may have done on the inside. I think I also see where they painted the cover part way and painted the screw heads which should be chrome plated and not black.
You probably know that the Mitchell half bail's handle came with a rounded metal knob. Later on, after Mitchell changed to a full bail on the Mitchell 300 they came up with a torpedo handle which had a longer shaft, and sold it as an accessory for the 300, in case the fisherman wanted a different style. Your handle hub with it's red fish logo, was normally found on the 300C model, but here someone has just cobbled it together with the other odd parts to make their idea of a good handle or whatever.
Pretty hard for me to see any serial number on the housing but you can clearly see the red primer coat on it. I believe it is a 3rd version 1/2 bail rotor and housing, so if you can find a matching cover plate and handle you will have a nice reel IMHO. By the way, some 3rd version 1/2 bail reels did not have a serial number. Hard to tell if yours is one unless I can see more photos.
I suggest you do a complete tear down if you can and clean out all of the old grease from inside.
Everyone has their own favorite cleaner but I like WD-40. Follow Wallace Carneys U-tube video and when you get to the rotor we can guide you with how to clean and get it into shape. Be careful when removing screws from 1/2 bail Mitchell's. Many have very narrow slots and are quite easy to damage.
Give us a shout if you need more help.
Kind Regards,
Bill
Well what you have there is what you guessed. Another franken reel to stay in the Halloween spirit.
So looks like someone took the cover plate from a later reel (Full Bail) and put it on your half bail. They also added a parts handle. No way to tell what they may have done on the inside. I think I also see where they painted the cover part way and painted the screw heads which should be chrome plated and not black.
You probably know that the Mitchell half bail's handle came with a rounded metal knob. Later on, after Mitchell changed to a full bail on the Mitchell 300 they came up with a torpedo handle which had a longer shaft, and sold it as an accessory for the 300, in case the fisherman wanted a different style. Your handle hub with it's red fish logo, was normally found on the 300C model, but here someone has just cobbled it together with the other odd parts to make their idea of a good handle or whatever.
Pretty hard for me to see any serial number on the housing but you can clearly see the red primer coat on it. I believe it is a 3rd version 1/2 bail rotor and housing, so if you can find a matching cover plate and handle you will have a nice reel IMHO. By the way, some 3rd version 1/2 bail reels did not have a serial number. Hard to tell if yours is one unless I can see more photos.
I suggest you do a complete tear down if you can and clean out all of the old grease from inside.
Everyone has their own favorite cleaner but I like WD-40. Follow Wallace Carneys U-tube video and when you get to the rotor we can guide you with how to clean and get it into shape. Be careful when removing screws from 1/2 bail Mitchell's. Many have very narrow slots and are quite easy to damage.
Give us a shout if you need more help.
Kind Regards,
Bill
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JayMitchell
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu Oct 31, 2024 9:02 pm
Re: Help dating Half Bail Reel
Bill,
Thank you for giving me such a quick and thorough response. It's nice to know what I have.
Cheers,
Jay
Thank you for giving me such a quick and thorough response. It's nice to know what I have.
Cheers,
Jay
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GreatLaker
- Posts: 262
- Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2021 1:05 am
Re: Help dating Half Bail Reel
Jay,
Only to happy to talk about my favorite hobby and it's nice to receive your appreciation. How about sending us a few photos when you finish, we love looking at our favorite reels.
Kind Regards,
Bill
Only to happy to talk about my favorite hobby and it's nice to receive your appreciation. How about sending us a few photos when you finish, we love looking at our favorite reels.
Kind Regards,
Bill