Mitchell Reel Forum

Stick, thank you for the photos. As suspected, your reel is an early one. It is the seventh earliest I've seen and it came off the line 38 reels after mine. It is identical to mine in all aspects. Only item I can't verify if it has screws instead of "C" clips that hold the oscillation slid...

Kim said it, "your trip is bent out of shape,"...This is the most common cause for the trip lever not moving enough upon engaging with the head to release the bail. A weak or misaligned trip lever spring would have opposite effect. A bail spring would do it, but that is obvious. Overtime, ...

When we started this task in the Mitchell Mates forum, little did we know what we were in for. The number of Mitchell reel models turned out to be much larger than expected. We never gave up and four years later, here's the Mitchell models we know were made for sale to the public. Other Mitchell mod...

Sounds good Stick. Those marks on top of the spool I would assume to be casting marks of some sort. They are indicative of early spools. Most of my early 302s have them, up to A35xxx.

Sandman

Stick, I checked my records and every half bail I've recorded below A03182 is a long foot. I've only recorded 12 below that number, (they are one of the most rare Mitchells to find now) but again everyone of those has been a long foot. So, I'm not convinced it was a special order option on the early...

Stick boy, very nice half bail…and yes it has the early and rare crank handle. What is the serial number on the back plate? I’ll check my records on the production of the big foot.

Sandman

Hey guys, to be clear, I'm not an expert in early Mitchell's. I specialize more in ULs and Salt Water Mitchell's. That said, I'm happy to contribute in any topic where I can and I do have some info on early Mitchell's.

Sandman

Since versions are a collector term and not a Mitchell term, it's been up to collectors to define this. Most collectors distinguish the transition from version 1 to version 2 with the addition of Made in France forged on the back side of the main body, and most collectors consider the boomerang styl...

Nice collection John. Note the squared off crank handle counterweight ends being more squared off ends. Those are earlier handles. Are any of the lube port screws chromed? If so, those are earlier too.

Sandman

Hey Bill, it actually does have a thumb-flip for the bail. A better photo below. It even has the serrated edge like the early 300, 304, 306 trip levers. Thanks Bill, actually, its a screw down counterweight on the crank handle. Just doesn't have the knurling for grip. The knurling came when SNs tran...

vich, welcome to the Mitchell Reel Museum.

I've never seen a K kit or advert for a UL. I don't think they were made.

Sandman

Kim, below are the only reels I've recorded with lower SNs than the A02019 you are looking at, so not many. As Chris states, these are scarce reels. Several below are in Randy, Chris' and my collections. I've recorded a couple in the A036xx range and those are the highest SN half-bails I've seen. Th...

Kim, all first versions I’ve seen had serial numbers. I’ve never seen a 302 without a SN and I’ve never seen a SN below Chris’ A01120. I’ve always wondered if the first 1000 were non-serial numbered pilot reels…just never seen one.

Sandman.

Hey Kim, they don’t get much earlier than that serial number. I’ve only seen a few earlier. First version, late 1953. Half bail 302s were only made to about serial number A03500. Photos would be great.

Sandman

Nice work Ted! Saved another.

Some of those schematics are really difficult to see what, where and how some of the parts are and how they go together. I've had to buy spare reels and take them apart just to figure them out.

Sandman

Agree with Don...many 308/408 questions can be answered here...

Sandman

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That's a second version Mitchell...rare to find in the States...would be great to see both sides of the transfer gear. Below is what they look like. Helps to determine how early of a second version.

Sandman

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gear

Hi Don :text-welcomewave: to MRM! The answer to your question is that serial number falls inline with a large production run of bodies/reels used for the 300DL. This does not mean they were offered to the public or presented to people in that year of production (1959), nor does it mean yours is not ...

Nice find Dries...I have about 1/2 dozen spares...love the display on a 308 field kit.

Sandman

The closest I have is a pair of early 308s, numbered 009956 and 009959.

Sandman

Sandman

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All that makes sense.

And heavy duty it was...not a dainty part...I can see where the term 'claw bail' came from...

Sandman

Yep, that’s it….and it’s not a half bail….it’s a heavy duty pick up arm…wonder where the term half bail came from…maybe another manufacturer?

Sandman

So sorry…that is sad…I wonder if there is any recourse on the shipping company..

Sandman

Thanks Wallace. I believe that part is shown on the 2nd version pamphlet that came with the reels. Can't find the pamphlet right now. I've never come across one.

Sandman

Nice work John! The reel didn't come out much before then. Maybe one year.

Sandman

Thanks Wallace...interesting....it does seem like I've seen one somewhere, maybe once.....rare indeed

Sandman

Thanks Wallace, I did not have that advert...I noticed is says it is easily convertible to a manual pick up. Does this mean it came with a full bale and an additional PUM part, or it was available to purchase with the PUM attached and no full bale? I read it as it came with with a full bale and the ...

Thanks Wallace, I knew when I was writing those years for the PUM it didn't seem correct because I thought I had seen them advertised earlier, but my records didn't indicate that....apparently my PUM records aren't very accurate...thanks for the correction.

Sandman

Excellent, nice work, you're welcome...its an inexpensive fix, just need a screw...and yes, everything spins opposite direction on right hand wind reels and along with that, thread direction. The one time I needed to drill out that screw, I wasn't that lucky, since it was a LHW reel...

Sandman

rlw, I show 1970 for the 302 and 1972 for the 306. These were the first PUM production years of these models. Not many of each were made. The PUM part may have been available for conversion earlier.

Sandman

Sea, If you can’t get a good bite with a screwdriver on the head of that later model drag adjuster screw, then you’ll need to drill the head off the screw….your other option is to just screw the whole spool off and buy one to replace it. The drag nut screw is screwed into the axle sleeve that is fix...

Sea, the drag nut does pop off, but you have to get the screw out first. The screw threads into the end of the axle. Not the best photo, but you can see there are no threads in the drag nut. The drag nut slips over the steel washer on the left. The steel washer threads onto the outside of the axle. ...

Sea,

to the Mitchell Reel Museum.

Did you remove the drag nut screw? If so, the drag nut just pops off. May need to pry it up.

Sandman

Thanks Bill...that helps clear it up...I remember the topic you are referring to, but don't remember the spool posts...so good to see....do either of your arbors have the cut out for a fiber washer like mine? I'm wondering if this was added in early second version production? Obviously some of the f...

John, the body (arbor) of my spool is plastic...likely Delrin, or similar...all else is aluminum

Sandman

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Ajamzi, your 300DL begin its life in 1959/60. That does not necessarily indicate, however, that it was sold/presented in those years.

Sandman

Nice story and nice score Don...near mint with box and papers...good Karma was paying you back, young man...

Sandman

Not to try to confuse, but I have an early second version with Rosewood crank grip. It came with this small capacity, first version spool with fiber drag washer cut out, first version spindle, first version pawl, no line capacity marking on aluminum drag nut adjuster and three screws (in close to th...

Thanks Wallace...some special reels....the "bone" color on gold is rich...I'm also drooling over the Garcia badged Bogdan fly reel...

Hooping to see more photos from George.

Sandman

Thanks Wallace and guys. Glen, good point about copper hardness. I cut down a copper electrical connector and then pounded one end of it with a 3lb maul to the shape and thickness I needed to be able to bind between the gears. I've had to do this probably 15 times out of a 100 or so ULs I've address...

There is a rod labeled Mitchell GR60, but not a reel that I know of.

https://www.nencinisport.it/en/mitchell ... gr-60.html

Sandman

Nice find Dries! I’ve not seen a Special 510 before either and in beautiful condition…we see very little Arca and Special reels in the states…would like to see the box. Thanks for showing.

Sandman

Richie, can you show photos of your bail wire?

Sandman

Nice quiver of Mitchells you have in your arsenal...

Sandman

Merlot, these casting marks are stamped into the molds at the foundry's Mitchell contracted to make the housings. You will find various marks throughout the years from different foundry's. Another mate may know exactly what the LM stands for (I think Christian L. has shared this info previously). Us...

Tracey, nice find...rare indeed...perhaps one of the rarest production models...One other observation...I don't think they came with polished aluminum spools in 1971, though easily remedied.

Sandman

Steps to remove the pinion gear from the rotating head. Occasionally, when trying to remove the pinion gear from the head to get at the bearings to re-lube or replace the pinion assembly, you will find that the pinion will not unscrew from the head, even after removing the hex nut in the head. I've ...

Yes, one of the many copies. Most came from Japan, as did this one...I've seen this one before. I think this is one of the better copies...and a very early one too...

You’re welcome Allan. Glad you got it apart. Sometimes the pinion sleeve male threads get very siezed to the female head threads. There is a trick to share to un-sieze these, as needed.

Sandman

Glen, there are two websites I would recommend for learning more about old cane and glass rods. These are predominantly fly rod sites, but do have spinning/bait casting sections. These are forum websites like this one where there are many experts and much discussion on old rods with examples and dis...

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