Altex wrote: ↑Mon Oct 31, 2022 3:54 pm
You are welcome to have a dig at me !! this has been going on for over 5 years, so I am used to it.
The words prototype, test and pilot are in common usage and there are dictionary definitions. A prototype would not be made in large numbers and sold to the public.
As a serious collector I own and have studied every book written about Mitchell reels. Because there was such confusion I made my own study.
When you bought your early reel I wrote and congratulated you. Later, when it became clear that you had concerns I wrote again and offered you information. You failed to reply to either e-mail : enough said. I recall that you contacted me several years back after you bought a MK2.3 reels, but didn't know what it was.
You take me to task for using the mark system and say that most people know what 1st, 2nd and 3rd versions are. Actually that is incorrect.
The man who, in my opinion, did more than anyone else to popularise Mitchell reel collecting is Dennis Roberts. He dated the first version to 1937/38 est. and described it as a first version - prototype. His second version was a reel with "Made in France" and a wooden knob. His third version the same reel with a metal knob. Fourth version a claw reel with boomerang check.
Bernard Caminade has the first model as round anti-reverse and wooden knob. Second model, round ar, MIF metal knob. Third model, claw with boomerang check.
Joy Van Hengst. 1946-7 prototype phase. Round ar. 1948-9 round ar and metal knob. 1950-2 claw with boomerang check.
Barry Frewing. First production 1948 - 54. Rotary check and metal knob.
Wallace Carney. First version 1939 - 40. No paint primer. no MIF, round ar and wooden knob. Second version 1940-6. Round ar and wooden or metal knob. Third version 1946-51 with boomerang check.
I'm seeing very little consensus and plenty of room for confusion.
So let's look at it logically. The first reel is defined by no MIF and a wooden knob. Are they all the same : no. The first reels lack primer while the later ones have primer and a different TG and ar knob. Does it matter? Yes. One is worth twice as much as the other.
The second reel has MIF and a round ar. Are they all the same. No. Some have a wooden knob and some metal, and there is a significant difference in value. Actually, there are other differences which I cover in my book.
It's a shame that we are where we are. If things were different, I could have lent you some books and you could have seen some special reels.