Dad's CAP

reelynew · March 10, 2024, 08:45:26 PM

I was visiting my folks recently and my Dad gave me his Mitchell CAP that was given to him a few years back by a friend who passed. It's certainly seen better days and am looking forward to giving it a good cleaning. The bail snaps back on retrieve and the anti-reverse is working.

It does appear that someone was inside this reel and it wasn't my Dad. Doesn't appear to have any grease. Perhaps a light oil, but it certainly looks better inside than out.

I had been reading on another website that the Mitchell Cap was the precursor to the 304. Is that correct as I am seeing what may appear to be planamatic gears?

I remember, a little over a year ago, telling my Wife I didn't see myself collecting these reels after I got my first 308. This is now my 4th Mitchell. Do gifts count?

Thanks,

Matt

Midway Tommy · March 11, 2024, 04:58:58 PM

Yes, the Mitchell Cap was pre 304. The early 304s had planamatic gearing. Prior to Garcia being etched into the body they added a yellow Garcia Product sticker. It was installed on the body above the handle. A lot of them eventually wore or fell off.

Gfish · March 12, 2024, 03:53:49 PM

Waaaasssup!, Matt. Yeah looks like the Planamatic gears. Looks like a "fisher", just me but I don't worry about the external stuff, unless I haveta dig out corrosion. I've looked at CAP reels recently, I like the no-wasted-space design of the gear-box. You maybe can get some interesting facts from the Mitchell Reel Museum site as I think it's still up.

sandbar · March 12, 2024, 04:56:53 PM

Here's some information.
-Steve

jgp12000 · March 12, 2024, 08:17:59 PM

One of my dock queens is a 304 on a 10 Ft EC rod, my favorite
Crappie rig.These round body Mitchells are simple and smooth

reelynew · March 19, 2024, 03:03:10 AM

Thank you everyone for your replies. Lots of great information.

Matt

jgp12000 · March 24, 2024, 11:34:45 AM

So what version/year did the 304 go to regular Gearing and you had to get a 314 for the planamatic gears?

jtwill98 · March 24, 2024, 02:37:45 PM

A bit of history on the Cap and Mitchell 304 found here: http://www.mitchellcap.info/

Midway Tommy · March 24, 2024, 10:57:46 PM

Quote from: jtwill98 on March 24, 2024, 02:37:45 PMA bit of history on the Cap and Mitchell 304 found here: http://www.mitchellcap.info/

That information was put together by Jim Seiler years ago. I have a color PDF of the original 122 page research document Jim did. It was given to me to review for accuracy & mistakes back in 2016 prior to it's publication in book form. There's a lot of good information in that 122 page document.

jtwill98 · March 25, 2024, 02:02:01 AM

Quote from: Midway Tommy on March 24, 2024, 10:57:46 PMThere's a lot of good information in that 122 page document.

I would love to see it if Jim would grant permission for you to share the document.

Midway Tommy · March 25, 2024, 04:01:13 AM

Quote from: jtwill98 on March 25, 2024, 02:02:01 AM
Quote from: Midway Tommy on March 24, 2024, 10:57:46 PMThere's a lot of good information in that 122 page document.

I would love to see it if Jim would grant permission for you to share the document.

Jim passed away in 2002, as I was informed. It came to me to review as a result of his daughter's approval. It's more or less what you are seeing via that link except that I can scroll right down the 122 pages, read the type with the photos and not have to be annoyed by having to click on a photo link. There's about 65 pages of Cap, Mitchell & Garcia catalog pages at the end.