Before and After Mitchell 300

jtwill98 · February 22, 2024, 01:42:02 AM

I picked up a really sad looking Mitchell 300 reel for $5 because of the Mitchell 3-0-0 print on the reel - a Pre-Garcia. I sorta knew what I was getting into. The handle knob was missing and I had some wooden knobs I made several years ago that look OK until I find a correct Mitchel knob.

Here are some pictures before, parts cleaned and after of the reel. I was amazed at the under-lying condition and think I have a nice reel to add to my Mitchell collection.

foakes · February 22, 2024, 01:51:09 AM

Great job!

Best, Fred

oldmanjoe · February 22, 2024, 02:17:47 AM

Wow that did cleaned up better than I though it would . Good Job

happyhooker · February 22, 2024, 02:51:51 AM

Very dirty, but underlying paint seemed pretty decent. See you found some parts that were needed; the wood handle almost looks like a real old 300 handle. Nice end result in any case.

Frank

Midway Tommy · February 22, 2024, 07:10:32 AM

Quote from: jtwill98 on February 22, 2024, 01:42:02 AMI picked up a really sad looking Mitchell 300 reel for $5 because of the Mitchell 3-0-0 print on the reel - a Pre-Garcia. I sorta knew what I was getting into. The handle knob was missing and I had some wooden knobs I made several years ago that look OK until I find a correct Mitchel knob.

Here are some pictures before, parts cleaned and after of the reel. I was amazed at the under-lying condition and think I have a nice reel to add to my Mitchell collection.

Cleaned up really well & turned out nice! Are you sure it's pre Garcia and wasn't made for the European market or maybe even came with the yellow or silver Garcia Products sticker?

jtwill98 · February 22, 2024, 02:48:38 PM

Quote from: Midway Tommy on February 22, 2024, 07:10:32 AMCleaned up really well & turned out nice! Are you sure it's pre Garcia and wasn't made for the European market or maybe even came with the yellow or silver Garcia Products sticker?

I believe you are correct and I should have stated Pre-Inscribed or Pre-Engraved "Garcia Mitchel 300". After cleaning, I found the serial number 1387652 dating it around 1956. I believe, and you can confirm, the first Garcia stickers were added to the reels in 1954.

I was amazed when I started removing the dirt from the reel that the paint was well preserved underneath. No stickers were present. I was more amazed when I cleaned the gears and saw what appeared as new gears with no wear. Only 2 items showed wear, the oscillating slide and and guide rails.

sandbar · February 22, 2024, 10:32:34 PM

Awesome restoration!
The kind that make you feel good.

jtwill98 · February 23, 2024, 12:19:20 AM

It does make it feel good when you go into it thinking you're getting is a parts reel and it turns out to be nicer than some of the reels in your collection.

Luckily, I had parts for all the missing items (reel spool, bail line guide and wooden knob), which I threw on until I find a knob.