Mitchell Reel Forum

My significant other purchased a used Garcia Mitchell 300 Serial Number 4116165 from a yard sale maybe 10 years ago. It appears that Garcia Mitchell 300 Serial Number 4116165 may have been manufactured in 1961! According to https://mitchellreelmuseum.com/dating-m ... l-numbers/

Ocklawahaman,
Congrats on your new reel. How about sharing a few photo's of it? We would love to see them.
Sounds like your reel is a 6th version Mitchell 300. The 6th version reels are quite interesting to me as there were many things going on with Mitchell at that time and with the Mitchell 300 reels.
Kind Regards,
Bill

In my significant other's storage building I found another Garcia Mitchell 300 SN 4836507 that might have been purchased long, long ago by her late uncle. It appears that it was MFD in France in 1962 according to https://mitchellreelmuseum.com/dating-m ... l-numbers/

GreatLaker, I post some photos of the now two Garcia Mitchell 300 reels SN 4116165 and 4836507 when I get a chance.

Hi GreatLaker and all others: OK here are photos of the two vintage Garcia Mitchell 300 reels that I have happened-upon so far. SN 4116165 (MFD 1961 in France) and SN 4836507 (MFD 1962 in France).

Hi GreatLaker and all others: OK here are photos of the two vintage Garcia Mitchell 300 reels that I have happened-upon so far. SN 4116165 (MFD 1961 in France) and SN 4836507 (MFD 1962 in France). MORE PHOTOS!

Ocklawahaman,
Thanks for posting the photos. Those are great close-up shots of the serial numbers on the bottom of the reel foot, it's not always easy to get good photographs of them.

Well, I agree with you as far as dating your reels go, and both reels are 6th version Mitchell 300's.
I am wondering what you are planning to do with the reels? Will you fish them, sell them, or fix them up and put them in your man cave?
Whatever you choose to do, these reels can be serviced by yourself and if you are mechanically inclined you could even restore them yourself.

If they were mine, the first thing I would do is get a clean rag, and some WD-40, and give them a good wipe down.
You can easily remove the spools by pressing the button in the center of the spool face, and it should pop right off. Remove the old line from the spools and recycle it.

Let us know what you plan to do and if you need any help, submit a new post on our "MITCHELL REEL SERVICE TALK" board.
Kind Regards,
Bill

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

Hello GreatLaker and Piscesman: Those two Garcia Mitchell 300 reels belong to my lady friend, and I try not to prod her into anything that she doesn't decide to do on her own. I learned with my darling ex-wife that they will tend to do the opposite of what I suggest. My lady friend knows that I researched the SN's, and I placed the two 300 reels where she can see them and do something with them, if the spirit moves her, ha-ha.

If they were mine, I would clean them, remove the old line and so forth. I wouldn't fish with them as I use my newer Shimano reels for my river bass and ultralight Beetle Spin fishing. I would possibly see if anybody wanted to buy them in their less than excellent condition BUT THEY'RE NOT MINE. I do still use my Garcia Mitchell 306 with the audible anti-reverse for heavier bait fishing scenarios in freshwater and saltwater.

In my youth, all of the Garcia Mitchell 300, 306, and 308 reels that I ever bought 1970 or before had "4-prong" drag covers. Piscesman, I did wonder about that "3-prong" drag cover! Significant other was just told about that "3-prong" drag cover AND SHE ALSO has some boxes of assorted reel parts in that storage building without electric lighting -- need to carry a good flashlight in there to see. Maybe there is more Garcia Mitchell pieces in those boxes.

Some photos of my old Garcia Mitchell 308 ultralight which I haven't had since about 1987.

Our properties border on the Cross Florida Greenway and the Ocala National Forest along the Ocklawaha River and Rodman Reservoir. That old storage building dates back into the 1950's and has STUFF in there belonging to her grandfather, father, uncle, and mother -- all deceased. Wildlife on land here includes black bear, cottonmouth, coral and rattlesnakes, scorpions and spiders, etc. In the water are alligators, softshell and snapping turtles, large bowfin and longnose gars. It is wise to be able to see where you are putting your hands and feet. BTW, the Ocklawaha River basin contains some of the finest subtropical jungle / rainforest in the 48 states. I saw lowland tropical jungle in Thailand near the Mekong River for Uncle Sam -- in my opinion, the Ocklawaha River swamp and hammock forest of big trees is quite comparable, and we also have the same wild Rhesus monkeys that were in Thailand.