Is it Time to Build Out a Few Mitchells From New Parts? Maybe it is!

[foakes]

Was going through 20 large crates of Mitchell parts looking for a 488 A/R lever for a guy from South Africa yesterday.  Found the part, let him know, haven't heard from the guy yet.

However, ran across a large stash of new Mitchell bodies, rotors, sideplates, and lots of other parts for 308's, 408's, 309's, and many others.  Got plenty of parts for the bails, cranks, spools, gears, bearings, and all other parts.  Should probably build a few out for members.

Then, I ran across a special offer brochure to owners of Garcia Reels & Rods —- to acquire a Mitchell Outdoorsman wristwatch for $19.95.  This was from pre-zip code days, so earliest 60's?

I wonder if Pure Fishing would honor this, if nothing else just for a fun attempt to replicate a little history?

Might give it a go, just to see what response I might get.

Best, Fred

[Keta]

:0)

[swede 53]

   Sadly Pure Fishing seems more interested in forgetting its' legacy companies and dismantling them.

[jtwill98]

The watch brochure is cool and I'm sure someone at Pure Fishing would find amusement in it. 

I just think some collector might get a bigger enjoyment from it as a piece for their shelve collection.  It's a nice piece of historical material. 

Regarding the Mitchell frames, I was wondering if any of them are stamped with serial numbers or were parts stock not stamped. 

 

[foakes]

The watch brochure is cool and I'm sure someone at Pure Fishing would find amusement in it. 

I just think some collector might get a bigger enjoyment from it as a piece for their shelve collection.  It's a nice piece of historical material. 

Regarding the Mitchell frames, I was wondering if any of them are stamped with serial numbers or were parts stock not stamped. 

All of the new frames are un-numbered because they are replacements for broken frames.

As for Pure Fishing, can't blame them or Newell or whoever buys them next and folds them into their portfolio of companies to enrich their capital and stock returns.  That is the corporate mentality that we have accepted, like it or not.  The motive is not to first build the highest quality product possible —- it is first to enrich the investors and corporate officers with high returns —- and then spin off the company or group of companies when it is time to cash in with a big offer from another company.

Tony is the manager and in charge of the Service Department, Parts Department, and other major responsibilities for Penn.  He is one of the highest quality individuals we will ever meet. He is a solid member of our site.  Some of the things that we never expected, he has done for our members, and for me personally. 

Best, Fred

[Midway Tommy]

Regarding the Mitchell frames, I was wondering if any of them are stamped with serial numbers or were parts stock not stamped. 

That's an interesting aspect. I do know that the ABU Cardinal replacement bodies did not have a date code on the bottom of the foot. Early replacement bodies had just the ABU SVANGSTA & later ones just had Product of Sweden on them. Knowing that makes it easier to determine if a Cardinal reel from that period is actually a legit original. 

[jtwill98]

Tony is the manager and in charge of the Service Department, Parts Department, and other major responsibilities for Penn.  He is one of the highest quality individuals we will ever meet. He is a solid member of our site.  Some of the things that we never expected, he has done for our members, and for me personally.

A BIG THUMBS UP to Tony and all his support. 

[jtwill98]

Knowing that makes it easier to determine if a Cardinal reel from that period is actually a legit original

Tommy,

You hit what I was seeking on the nose. I have seen some Mitchell reels that didn't have serial numbers whose internals were late 70s models. I always wondered if the body frame could have been replaced or altered.

Not that it made a difference to me personally, other than the fact the seller was asking for a higher price than I expected.

[Gfish]

Try it Fred. I'd be real interested to see the response, if any? If you get a watch, I'll buy it from you. Then probably take it out to 250', put a hook on it, drop it down, jig it a bit and see if it still works when it comes-up.
That was a serious question about sending in the offer, though.

Here's a few pictures of aaaaaa... ~Early '50's 300 booklet all in black/white. 20 cents, wonder if the original reel buyer had to purchase it separately? Came with box(no top) and spare spool in a plastic container. Don't think the plastic spool container is original, cause it won't screw down alla way. I have a version 3 -1/2-bail with an aluminum spare spool container.

The reel does have a back-of-the gearbox serial #: C17270. Wallace Carney's site is still shut down so I'll have to wait to get the date close. Lot's of great early-days-of-spin-fishing info. in there. Check-out the excellent detail for the parts diagram. This is, I believe, the kind of thing corporations(such as Garcia...?) would probably start to cut back-on to save $ and increase stock prices, as Fred alluded to. There is definitely more plastic on this reel(4th or 5th version?)than on the 3rd version I have.
The only advertisement was for the "Salt Water Reel" on the last page. A 302 before they named it?