Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Wow Tommy!  You are good! Looked again as close to a light as I could get with the lupe and found the SN where you said. it is 59xx649 (x's being numbers I still can't make out). So that makes it a 1964 or 1965 according to the table if I read it right. Will ask my son or daughter to to decipher the missing two numbers when they visit for Christmas. Great detective work!
Thank you, Russ

Quote from: Midway Tommy on December 11, 2025, 11:10:50 PMWhen I enlarge the foot photo there almost appears to be a digit (like a 9 or maybe an upside down 6) a little left of center.

I saw that as well and if look to the right, maybe 4-5 digit spacing, you see a hint of what looks like another number.

I looked at two samples from my collection, one clearly has the serial number and the other one, like yours, I can't make out the serial number.  See attached twoSamples picture.

Based on the information from Wallace Carney's book the Anti-Reverse Lever dates it 1962.  See attached coverPlate.jpg (excerpt from Wallace Carney's book) picture.   

Good info-that indeed is my AR lever and matches with the partial serial number dating. That book must be an amazing resource! Out of print on Amazon (just checked) and no copies in LA City or County libraries. Guess Mitchell collecting is too niche for the library.

His book shows up occasionally on auction sites.  I acquired mine there for less than $100 a few years ago. They show up on other auction sites as well. I have his, George Saul's (which you can still purchase through his daughter on Facebook) and Rolands Babulis. 

Wallace's book covers the differing characteristics associated with dating of Mitchell 300 reels
George's book covers the packaging and the reel characteristics -- to me more difficult to track dating.
Rolands' book is dedicated to the earliest Mitchell reels MK.1 MK.2 and MK.3.
 

Glad the info helped you narrow down the circa of your reel!

Thanks again - I would have sworn the numbers weren't there without your post. Another good reminder about the benefits of wisdom and experience! (As well as a sobering one about the limitations of my eyesight, lol)