Hello again! And sorry for my english not that perfect...
The Mitchell 498 PRO Tournament reel is the best spinning reel in my collection and probably one of the best fishing reels out there. Why?
Because it has only quality parts. If a normal 498 has the main gear made out of alloy, the PRO version uses a solid junk of bronze. The small gear is also in bronze.
Also, the shallow tournament spool has two bronze bushings. The main shaft of the PRO has a tip made out of bronze, where the spool fits, but the 498 has it made out of plastic. In both cases, the shaft is 6 mm in diameter, which is one of the thickest ever made (some Van Staals have it 7 mm thick).
The 498 is a salt water reel with a rubber gasket on the inside. Also it has two bearings: a ball and a roller one, both rolling on bronze bushings. On the outside, the PRO has a rosewood handle that can be locked in place for casting and a small engraved fish on the left side and a tiny place in which the professional angler could engrave his name.
The reel was made around 1989 in France, but it has no serial number. It weights 30,3 ounces (860 grams). Nobody knows how many were made, but I'm sure we are talking about a small number.
Right now there is one on Ebay pretty cheap selling from France: http://www.ebay.com/itm/beau-moulinet-de-peche-ancien-mitchell-498-PRO-/151984597884?hash=item2362fceb7c:g:9oIAAOSwx-9WwetR
Good Morning, Membedeep --
Being a repair guy for both conventional and spinning reels -- I have enjoyed your commentary on the reels in your collection. You obviously know quality and scarcity.
The year 1989 is historical for Mitchell, and marks a point in history where many manufacturers were considering selling out, merging, moving production to Asia -- and all options were on the table.
It was survival -- nothing less. And we all make decisions before we are forced to eat the dog.
Mitchell recognized a strong market for surf gear early on. They had the solid old 302/402, D.A.M. had the 270/275 Super, Penn had the 700/704/706, Luxor had their surf models, and there were more.
Along comes Daiwa from Japan -- changing the landscape dramatically with inexpensive and good quality reels for surf fishing. Plus Daiwa, due to the Japanese way of approaching a business model -- was not looking at just the next year profits -- this was an investment for them that had a 2 year, 5 year, 10 year, 25 year, and 100 year set of goals and signposts of attainment along the way. They were, and are, smart, observant, patient, and good business people. Their success based on a combination of price and quality -- forced the other more traditional makers to rethink everything about their business.
Plus, the Daiwa reels were more attractive, sleeker, more engineering developments like skirted spools, more colorful -- easier to market to a new generation of users.
But before these traditional makers turned to the Asian manufacturing model -- they had a certain sense of loyalty to the engineers and employees that had carried them through the good and hard times. So they allowed their engineers to kind of design and produce a last reel before moving production out of their country.
The 498 Pro was this reel for Mitchell -- an engineers reel, a good reel, a collector reel.
Again, I appreciate your posts. And if I can ever help with some basic Mitchell parts -- just let me know -- I have quite a few.
Best Regards,
Fred
I have a load of 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 306,307,308,400,402,406,408,486, 488...(not as many as Fred, maybe no one does)....that motor is nice, I hadn't known about it and now will certainly hunt one.
Nice post!
john
Thank you both! That reel from Ebay is really rare and seems to be cheap so far... I would honestly buy it, but I have no Ebay account. So if someone is a Mitchell fan, don't hesitate!
Thanks Fred, even if we are half a world apart, I will tell you if I need something.
Ps: I will post some more photos here tomorrow, maybe more people find them interesting.
Here are the insides of a 498 made around 1980 - 1984.
And some more photos of the PRO version.
Thanks for sharing the photos Membedeep.
My late 70's Garcia-imported 498 also has bronze gears, roller bearing, and handle lock--but it lacks the bronze bushings beneath the spool.
Your line roller also appears to be slightly different.
Tough reels for sure, mine is mounted on a Fenwick 1328 Atlantic Stik and will more than hold its own fished alongside reels of today..:)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c100/unchained_colors/Mobile%20Uploads/20160224_223403.jpg) (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/unchained_colors/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160224_223403.jpg.html)
Nice custom one! Maybe you can post some more detailed pictures of this beauty sometime! :)
Nice beautiful reel Membedeep .
Likewise Chad, beautiful.
Looks like some tough solid reels that will last a lifetime of fishing fun.
Thanks Bryan and Membedeep.
I'll see what I can do to post some photos, it will be interesting to compare the two.
Chad
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c100/unchained_colors/Mobile%20Uploads/20160228_215017.jpg) (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/unchained_colors/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160228_215017.jpg.html)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c100/unchained_colors/Mobile%20Uploads/20160228_214822.jpg) (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/unchained_colors/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160228_214822.jpg.html)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c100/unchained_colors/Mobile%20Uploads/20160228_214412.jpg) (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/unchained_colors/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160228_214412.jpg.html)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c100/unchained_colors/Mobile%20Uploads/20160228_213901_1.jpg) (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/unchained_colors/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160228_213901_1.jpg.html)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c100/unchained_colors/Mobile%20Uploads/20160228_212334.jpg) (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/unchained_colors/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160228_212334.jpg.html)
Great looking reel. Very interesting that they utilized the side plate to help with the gear/shaft...unless it's just grease.
That spinner is built like a tank.
Sal
Quote from: Alto Mare on March 06, 2016, 11:56:33 PM
Great looking reel. Very interesting that they utilized the side plate to help with the gear/shaft...unless it's just grease.
That spinner is built like a tank.
Sal
It's just grease.. ;)
Chad
Quote from: cbar45 on March 08, 2016, 12:24:08 AM
Quote from: Alto Mare on March 06, 2016, 11:56:33 PM
Great looking reel. Very interesting that they utilized the side plate to help with the gear/shaft...unless it's just grease.
That spinner is built like a tank.
Sal
It's just grease.. ;)
Chad
;D...still a tank ;)
Thank you for this, one day I will put together a 499. I wanted this spool but didn't know it's capacity, looks like it holds enough line for shore casting.
Ron
Sal-
It's a tank in the rough, you need to come out to HI and work your magic on it..;)
Ron-
The original specs called for over 400 yds of .45 mm (20 lb.) line. I wouldn't doubt it as the spool is quite deep and just over 3" in diameter. I usually fish the reel spooled with 30 or 40 lb. mono dunking bait.
Membedeep-
Your last photo of the 498 Pro appears to show a bronze bushing/drag plate mounted in a graphite spool. Fishing this setup, do you notice any improvement in the drag, (smoothness, start-up, etc), compared to that of the standard 498?
Chad
Chad, what is your reel sprayed with to get that pretty new finish? I recently came by some Z and big Mitchell gimps that I will refinish in the future.
thanks!
John
Hi John,
I'm afraid I can't help much, as I had someone do the paint work for me about 6-7 years ago.
Don't remember what was used, other than it being a standard two-part paint in either Dark Cherry or Brandywine.
Chad
Quote from: cbar45 on March 08, 2016, 10:32:24 AM
Membedeep-
Your last photo of the 498 Pro appears to show a bronze bushing/drag plate mounted in a graphite spool. Fishing this setup, do you notice any improvement in the drag, (smoothness, start-up, etc), compared to that of the standard 498?
The standard 498 has the spool without any bushings, is just metal. Also, the main shaft has the spool support made out of plastic in the standard model, which is of a low quality. Metal on plastic... is good, but not fantastic :D I haven't fished both reels that much, so I wouldn't know for sure, but I would always choose the bronze on bronze model.
I have an unused 1988 Mitchell 498 Pro PUM that there is understandably now creating interest in some quarters. It comes complete with original box, bag, manual & warranty card etc. How would I go about finding a fair price for it?
Any advice gladly appreciated.
It has never been used although it has been spooled with mono.
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All Mitchell 498s were made as PUM. The 488 is the same reel with a full bail.
Comp it on eBay's "Completed Auctions", but you'll have to check back every now and then to find "solds" to compare. "Sold's" prices are in green. There hasn't been many recent sales because they are kind of rare and those that are currently listed have ridiculously high BIN prices.
IMHO, I would guess it @ around $250-300, but who knows on any given day if more than one or two people go after it.
Thanks Tommy.
There seems to be contradictory information floating around i. e. that only specifically the ones with the wooden handles and "engravable" plate were NUM. Your understanding on this?
NUM, or did you mean PUM? If you meant PUM the Garcia Mitchell 498 (dark blue) was introduced in 1968/9. The "Pro" line was by Mitchell Sports. Browning purchased Mitchell (mainly from Garcia) in 1980. Mitchell Sports USA purchased Mitchell from Browning in 1984. Mitchell was then sold to Johnson Worldwide in 1991, who sold it to Pure Fishing in 2000 and Pure Fishing to Jarden Corp., i.e. Coleman Camping products, in 2007.
I'm not sure what contradictory information you are talking about? Every Mitchell 498, regardless of the parent company or manufacture time frame came with a manual line pickup (sometimes referred to as MP &/or PUM). The 498, in varying models, was in continuous production from 1969 until the Mitchell Sports inventory was sold out around 1990. A couple of later models, ProX, Anniversary & Millennium were marketed in the late '90s & 2000.
http://www.mitchellreelmuseum.com/index.php/Content/mitchell-reel-models-made-1939-1989.html
http://www.mitchellreelmuseum.com/index.php/category/506
http://www.mitchellreelmuseum.com/index.php/category/450
http://www.mitchellreelmuseum.com/index.php/category/420
Apologies Tommy, was intended to be PUM.
I bought it in 1988 in Europe. It is black with "France" and a 'serial number' of "T .09.03" on the foot. I assume it is one from the category 450 you refer to in the links.
Well I finally found a 498 PRO on ebay yesterday, it is in shipment now to me. I have been wanting one for years, I have found several 498's for sale over the years but no PRO 498's.
I will be using it for shore fishing for Pacific Halibut up here in the NW corner of Washington State, on the Olympic Peninsula on the Straits of Juan de Fuca. I have caught many Halibut from the boat but want the experience of hooking one from the shoreline. The 498 PRO is built heavy duty: I like the bronze gears and especially the handle lock for casting.
I have a Rainshadow 1569 13 foot surf rod blank that I will wrap for this reel. "Hatteras Heaver" style rod, rated for 8 to 16 ounces weight & bait, a real beast. The reason for the big surf rod is I have located, while boat fishing, an area that is reachable with a long cast from shore. I have caught Halibut on this area from the boat in the past.
I have a Penn 990 on a similar rod, it will also get a work out when I am fishing from shore.
When the 498 PRO arrives I will take a few photos and post.
Thanks, Mako —
Look forward to your reports on this rare HD Spinner.
Best,
Fred