The welder was unsuccessful. The foot disappeared, probably in a puddle, under the torch. The reel went into a cabinet in my Dad’s shop, wrapped in a death shroud of greasy rags, and was forgotten about.
I found it a week or two ago, right where the two of them left it. The ‘bay delivered a used, but, usable, body, to get the old reel in service again. I spent a few pleasant hours in the shop today, making it so. My Dad, a product of the Great Depression, would not have thrown it away, but, even though the reel would have been a great source of parts, I can’t see that he would have ever attempted to utilize those parts on his own reels, all even number Mitchell’s, just like this one:
As a basically unused reel, it is wonderfully tight and crisp. The main body is not in the same pristine condition as the rest of the reel, but, I doubt the northern pike and walleye I chase will care much about that.
Ted
