I've been investigating the Mitchell 308 reels and recently ran across the picture attached. What caught my eye was the 3-0-8 (dashes between the numbers). I had not seen them before and saw this image on MRM site. It's pictured as the avatar for MRM member sandman. He explains that it is one of ~3500 of the earliest Mitchell 308s.
Has anyone ran across one of these and would they be interested in sharing their thoughts, pictures, etc.? I would like to learn more. I think the have a round spander-like nut holding the rotor to the pinion, FrOnce marking, may or may not have serial numbers and were manufactured in 1959. I also wonder if they were limited to the European market?
Can't speak to the 3-0-8 aspect but I do have a 308 & a deep blue 4-0-8. The 4-0-8 has a red Garcia sticker in front of the Mitchell etching. Here's a couple of pics of both. One pic shows the comparable parts of my 308 &
4-0-8.
Apparently, the dash is not an determining attribute of the 1959 308 reels.
However, the 308 numeric placement in relation to the cursive Mitchell insignia is a deterministic characteristic as seen in the picture attached.
High placement is the earliest dated 308 reels. This required some serious study and observation skills.
If interested, you can follow the conversation here: https://mitchellreelmuseum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=574&sid=efbdb2f95366fda6799051b44479d733
Quote from: Midway Tommy on April 15, 2025, 05:56:19 AMOne pic shows the comparable parts of my 308 &
4-0-8.
Nice reels and great comparison picture.
Help me remember on a side note, were the Prince 308s only released in Europe & what years?
There's some conflicting information as to whether the Prince reels were only distributed in the Europe/UK market. IMO, I think Sandman's information is correct as the 2nd version (with raised Fr"O"nce labeling) may have been unbadged and distributed by Garcia.
According to forum contributor Sandman on the MRM site:
Quote from: Sandman post_id=4048 time=1744744596 user_id=59What we know, is there were Prince reels and unbadged reels from the beginning. While we know the Prince reels were only distributed in Europe (primarily in Britain) most believe the unbadged reels were distributed in the US. The unbadged reels became Garcia reels at about 33,000 reels, so weren't unbadged for long. Once Garcia became the sole North American distributor for Mitchell in 1954, the lions share of Mitchell reels were destined for the US/Canadian market.
The earliest Prince reel I've recorded is 003517.
Sandman
Sandman didn't provide any dating information, however here is the information I have according to Dennis Roberts - Mitchell's Collectors Guide:
The first Mitchell Prince 308/309 reels were first issued in 1959 for the European market and available for 2 years. A 2nd version Prince 308/309 reel was released in 1960 and was distributed by Garcia into the US and Canadian market. These reels had the raised France (FR"O"NCE) lettering on the body with no Prince sticker on reverse cover plate.
Probably the most recognized versions are the 3rd version (FR"O"NCE still appears) released in 1962 and a 4th version (FR"O"NCE missing from body) released in 1963 sold in Europe/UK. Both versions from what I understand were released with the "Prince" sticker on the reverse cover plate.
This site has some good pictures which agree with Dennis Roberts' Guide. https://www.salmonidesevenements.fr/308.html
Prince 308 reels were also marketed in South Africa, I have one.. from 1974, so must have been a late version..
Some era of the 300's had the hyphenated 3-0-0
rabbit trail again,today I was fishing with the 1st 300 I bought that got me into vintage reels & learned of alantani.com
I caught a 4 " bream & was reeling it slow near the dollar weed "SLAM" !!! 3 lber it never gets old :fish