Swap meet Mitchell 300...

[cdaline]

Backstory ...

At the swap meet yesterday I came across an intact Garcia Mitchell
300S box... i excitedly thought I may have found a saltwater
300 ... alas, upon opening, found a pre-Garcia Mitchell 300. As the box
had appropriate Browning era documentation present I thought I'd
negotiate a price... ask $45...I gave $25. (about the going rate out
here for a gently used 300) . The extra spool was a plus.

Now my questions... (I have visited the Mitchell Museum site without
finding answers). I searched internal and external for a serial number
with no luck . The footplate has a solo letter "S". When did Mitchell add
the "Garcia" name ? How do I age date this Mitchell 300 ? (guess ...mid-late
50's ?).

The reel appears OEM and in good nick. I cleaned lubed and oiled the
gears... smooth bail operation. May track down a 300s and keep the
box/documents. As this Mitchell 300 is in such good shape will add to
the armory. (First reel as a kid was Garcia Mitchell 304 !). I am a fan.

Thanks in advance for the answers...

Charles

photos here...
https://imgur.com/a/Cw6wfmU

[oldmanjoe]

 Mitchell 300 S   1982 - 198?   104,253   
  The s did not stand for salt water  
  You have to look  again on the Mitchell site , there is talk about the s .  
IF i find it ,I will post it .

     the S on the 300S does not stand for saltwater - it stands for Skirted Spool.

[oldmanjoe]

  Found it
   http://www.mitchellreelmuseum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=6265&sid=37758a5f68206d8edc4ed4264d1e6fa7

[Midway Tommy]

Some would consider your 3-0-0 a "5th Version". Garcia etching was added in the 1958/59 range. 3-0-0 was added around 1955ish. Prior to Garcia being etched into the sideplate Mitchell 300 models distributed by Garcia had a sticker above the handle. Earliest stickers had silver writing and the later stickers had yellow writing. European sold models did not have a sticker, but most US models have long since lost their sticker from use. Check the body closely. Serial numbers were also put on the body and are difficult to decipher sometimes. There will be a legible serial # unless the reel has been repainted. The serial number will better date the reel. 

[philaroman]

you can read all the text, but you may need to register
to see photos uploaded directly to mitchellreelmuseum.com (not hosted)

[cdaline]

Wow... doing some learning today !!! Thank you all. Great stuff.

My errors....
- "S" doesn't indicate salt water
- I thought the " S " from the late 80's only counted when associated with alpha numeric
  serial number.... not free standing.
- lack of imprinted "Garcia" logo doesn't indicate pre-Garcia. Indicates missing decal.
- somewhere on this reel is a serial number.... it is there, "I can't find it " doesn't float.
- had not even considered "repainted" ...my bad.

thank you all for the lesson... I will try to pass on accurate info in the future. No more "saltwater"
reel talk from me.

- do odd number models still equate to "right handed" ?

Thanks again. I love these reels.

Charles

Cool Garcia Mitchell video circa 62'......

[oc1]

Cool Garcia Mitchell video circa 62'......

Yes, really cool video.
-steve

[cdaline]

Team Tani....

Update.... upon encouragement from Mr. Tommy I decided to
spend more time, better lighting, magnifying lens to see if I
could discern a serial number. Viola ! The serial number is
814896... i tried to capture the number photographically and
included a red arrow indicator of location.

If I am reading the Museum chart correctly it would appear to
have a born on dating circa 1955. Not sure which version that
equates to ?

Again, thanks to all .

Charles
updated Imgur listing.... https://imgur.com/a/Cw6wfmU

[Midway Tommy]

Team Tani....

Update.... upon encouragement from Mr. Tommy I decided to
spend more time, better lighting, magnifying lens to see if I
could discern a serial number. Viola ! The serial number is
814896... i tried to capture the number photographically and
included a red arrow indicator of location.

If I am reading the Museum chart correctly it would appear to
have a born on dating circa 1955. Not sure which version that
equates to ?

Again, thanks to all .

Charles
updated Imgur listing.... https://imgur.com/a/Cw6wfmU

Most likely manufactured in 1955/56, which would be 5th version. If you haven't already noticed it you can get a little more information here in the Gallery.

[cdaline]

Thank you Mr. Tommy. I had missed the Museum page in your link.
Kind of cool to have a functioning Mitchell 300 as old as I am. Man !
tha serial number was a booger to find ! They sure didn't make it easy.
I am grateful for the folks that put in all that effort to make available
a repository of information of such quality... well done Mitchell Museum !

Thanks again Team Tani.

Charles