Mitchell Reel Forum

John, I believe you are correct, the electrostatic should provide a uniform thickness. I have been out of the Aircraft Refinisher trade for 30 years, I have no real experience with either powder paint nor electrostatic process. Therefore my opinion is speculation. I am very pleased to see this threa...

Hi Everyone, SIMPLEX has posted something that gives an insight into the finish used on Mitchell reels, in his first post of photos from 13 Aug, in the bottom right corner, they show a conveyor loaded with Mitchells on the way for paint. It states that they used Electrostatic Paint System. The Canad...

Hello Mitchell Mates, :banana-angel: For fresh water, I only use Mitchells. I have 5 serviceable 300s, a 308 and a 304. I have been redoing beat 300s, giving them a paint job just to use them for fishing. I pick most of the 300s up at work. By the time I am finished, I should have a lifetime supply ...

Let's not get into this sort of thing. French industry has produced some of the best aircraft, ships, consumer products on the planet. Peugeot automobiles are found throughout Europe, one of the most popular brands, the same for Renault and Citroen. This site celebrates just one example of the natio...

From what I gather from reading the specs on Super glue and Viper lube, it appears that Viper lube is for high heat applications. Even given that our Mitchell reels don't need the high heat handling properties, I think it will be a good product.

Bonne soiree

Glen

The recommendations here are what we as individuals use, my recommendations are not better than any other poster. Lubricants have progressed greatly in the many years since Mitchell reels first arrived. What was available in the 1950s was appropriate for the time. It required more frequent cleaning ...

Hello everyone, I have come across another grease that I believe will be good for reels. It is called Loctite Viperlube Synthetic grease. It appears to be similar to Superlube, except that it is a pale amber colour. Superlube is clear. I have yet to use Viperlube, but will do so on the next reel I s...

Good day Bill, thank you for your response to my question about graphite spools. Wallace's answer about using Walnut Shell to blast paint off is also timely. There is, too, a process called Plastic Media Blasting that can remove paint without damaging the substrate. this is available in an abrasive ...

Christian,

Quelle collection!

If you post much more amazing stuff, we are going to have to organize a Tour of Mitchell Mates to fly to France and visit your Petite Musee! I know that I would love to see it! Peut etre c'est ne pas telement petite.

Felicitations

Glen

Hello,

I have one spool on a 300 that is Graphite Composite, it may have come from a Taiwan made mitchell, but i am not sure. Any info as to when and where these were made?

Thanks

Glen

I agree with Don, Mitchells are treasured by collectors and users. Myself being a user, I take old beat up 300's (the most numerous Mitchell model) and clean , strip, treat and repaint to give them longevity in use. if I came across a new in box version, or an old CAP or single bail 300, I would pro...

When I lived in Germany, 1974 to 1978, our base was at Lahr, about 35 miles from Strasbourg, France. At that time, a French franc was about $.25 CDN. Guessing that these reels were made about that time or earlier, the cost of these reels would be less than $2US. That is quoting Christian's price of ...

Am I correct to surmise that the 498has a composite body vice one of Metal?

Bonsoir Christian, I passed four years of my career in Germany, at Lahr. This is close to the Frontier with France, near Strasbourg. It was a nice area at the edge of the Black Forest. I returned to Canada in 1978. If I remember correctly, your collection is all reels made in France. Your knowledge ...

That's OK, I mistook you for Simplex.

Best wishes

Glen

Hi Simone,

Just remember, Kim is the good looking one.

Glen

Hi Chris, I'm happy that you enjoyed Halifax. Of course, when Canadian sailors go ashore in foreign ports they only attend opera, museums, theatre, ballet art galleries and other cultural activities. I didn't spend very much time at sea. I worked on Grumman Trackers which flew off our only carrier. ...

Goodness no, It was pretty funny. I got mixed up with who had the green ones, I thought it was Simone. I believe Christiane (SIMPLEX) had a different name in the previous Museum site. I feel so stupid. I'm getting old and tired, my wife has been very ill. I am still working at 72. I miss details for...

Hi Chris, You got me!!!!! In Simone’s original post, directly above his green M34s, are the French words “EN VENTE”. Which in English means “ ON SALE” Does this mean he is selling? LOL. So where did you get these ones Chris? Have you ever seen the blue PAGE M 34? I should have known that you, Chris ...

Good day Simplex,

You are correct, this is a version of the Mitchell 320, the similar 324 has the antireverse lever on the side of the cover, like a 300.

Nice reel for a collector, in it’s original packaging as well.

My first Mitchell was a 320

Have a good day

Glen in Nova Scotia

Bene, molto bene !!!! You really surprise us with these unusual versions of Mitchell reels. First blue, now green. Is Baltzer a German brand? Do you have papers for any of these reels? If so, in what language are they printed? I would be suprised if any Mitchell Mate in North America have seen these...

Hi Don,

Did you practice with this stripper on a 300C body?

Glen

Hi Don,

Hope there"s enough to keep you busy restoring Mitchells for the next 5 winters!!

Best wishes

Glen

Allo SIMPLEX, Except for the Pied Droit, most Mitchell's have an offset bend that places the reel farther back. Well OK, the Pied Droit does as well, just not very much. However, the Pied Deport places the reel in the opposite direction, toward the Rod Tip and quite a bit forward. Mon Ami, there wil...

Good Day SIMPLEX, Those are nice photos The Pied Droit (Straight Foot) has a very robust foot and stem. I have seen this before, but the Pied Deport (Offset Foot) i have not seen. It also has a foot stem more solid than the later foot stem on the 300 model. A couple of my Mitchell 300 reels were giv...

Hi Don,

I would spray it with gloss, but that is only my opinion.

Glen in Nova Scotia

Welcome to the Museum, My first Mitchell was a320. I bought it because I was a newly married Canadian Navy guy who couldn’t afford a 300. I believe I paid $17 or so for it. The 300 cost $30 at that time. It was a good little reel. I lent it to someone who never returned it. I would look for a 324. I...

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, There is only one shim under the pinion gear. I believe the insides are clean enough, the paint was stripped in a tank, then dipped in caustic cleaner, rinsed and treated with the chroma coat. I will probably get back to it in the near future. Thanks again Glen

Hello everyone, It appears that this fishing kit was for the French market, I am going to attempt a translation of what it says on the cardboard from top to bottom. I am reading from the left hand display card. I can't read the small script at the very top. Below this, in red "Lance Complete&qu...

Thanks Bailarm,

Could you give me a starting place, say 2 shims totalling.030, or.035 etc. I have np idea where to begin on this.

Glen

I just wonder what the payoff was for this villain. How does someone gain from doing such a thing.

Glen in Nova Scotia

Good day Mates, There was a lot of things on the previous iteration of Mitchell Reel Museum. The reel schematics, the section on various models, that listed them all. Lots of really valuable information. I hope it is not all lost. I know building the site back up will take a lot of time and effort, ...

German Companies often use GmbH. It stands for Gesellshaft mit beschraenker Haftung. Translation is company with limited liability. In other words, limited or Ltd. In English. The two capital letters are nouns. All nouns in German are capitalized. I got this from the net, I am not an expert in Germa...

Thanks Wallace, It is still stiff, I am wondering if the main shaft is bent. I cleaned the reel with Brake wash and greased it. All the internal parts are there, except the bail spring. I need to get some of these. I am going to take the reel apart, maybe in a week and check the shaft. I am not sure...

I only have access to some parts, at work. The reel that I serviced belongs to a work acquaintance. I gave the part to him from a junked reel that I had. I am not very good at posting photos. Thanks, Bill, for posting the info about the 300A, it helps to clarify what was found in the later models fr...

Thanks for saying that..........but............ I really did not know that about a 300A. The thing is, the Taiwan reel has TAIWAN on the bottom of the foot. It would appear that it may have used a 300A as the model to copy. I don't know if a Mitchell 300A has France or made in France on the reel. I ...

Hello Everyone, Wallace, you were right, i was missing the steel washer under the baffle. I have another that I will put in at home, my little box of parts was at work. I also have to put in a Bail Spring. The rotor shim was missing, I got 1/2 dozen of the 3 thicknesses made and put one in last even...

One other point that I missed is masking of threaded holes. I use 1/4 inch long pieces of round tooth pick, or the wooden handle of a cotton swab. if it screws right in go for it, just need to start it. Use the taper to get the tooth pick piece into the hole. If the wooden piece is too small, wrap a...

I think it may be the equivalent of LTD in English, or possibly Inc. I have wondered about it myself.

Glen

I also intended to add, that the packaging adds to the value of the piece.

Glen

It sure looks to be a Mitchell 304 type to me. It has the MADE IN FRANCE on the case. The Mitchell logo was normally engraved by the handle, they would have omitted this step for this special order.

I believe it is very rare and collectable, but I am neither expert or collector myself

Glen

Hello Simone,

I would recommend that you keep this reel in it"s original packaging. if the experts on this site have never seen this edition of the Mitchell 304/314 then it is truly a rare and previously unknown item.

Glen Simpson
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia,
Canada

GOOD DAY MiTCHELL MATES, i am posting this as a guide to identifying these reels that may be found for sale in our usual source points. There are some obvious differences in these reels as opposed to the French made 300"s. - The antireverse mechanism is different. It is made of metal and has a ...

That's a nice colour Don, it will look good.

Glen

My thoughts are, that without the shim, the gears are meshed tighter, making it difficult to turn the reel over. I believe the steel washer and the 2 brass ones are there under the baffle, but I will look into this. It isn't a high priority, I have four 300's that I am not using. I am making a jig t...

Hello Mitchell Mates, I have a Mitchell 300 that is missing the shim that sits under the Rotating Head Pinion Gear. The reel is really tight. I am in the process of making a Jig to hold shim stock in a lathe in order to turn out shims. What thickness would be suitable? I have access to brass shim st...

If that reel functions, you can use it as a Fisher, or sell it as such. Myself I only buy reels that I stumble upon. I have an ad at my tool crib for old French Mitchell Reels and occasionally i get one in, almost always a 300, Nova Scotia is 300 territory. I pay $10 for a Parts Reel, $30 for a comp...

For $10 I would have hopped on that sale some Quick!!!

Glen.

One other point in this, the inside of the rotor head is painted. I would only put one coat of primer and one of topcoat. None of clear coat. Too much coating could compromise clearance of moving parts The clear coat should also go on before the tape is removed, my post may lead one to surmise that ...

I only wish it whad been a walleye. Just downriver from where this occured, on a different date i was with a fellow who caught a 26 inch rainbow trout. For this Carp, if we had not been in a boat I doubt that i could have netted this fish. I had an idea when I hooked it, that it was a big Channel Ca...

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