paul_614 Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 I have 2 Mitchell 300 reels that have never been used. Does anyone know how to tell the age and value of them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey buoy Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 (edited) I'm not sure but let me try it and I'll give you a honest opinion:whistling:LOL. Edited March 26, 2012 by davey buoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhioFisherman Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 (edited) Old ones have France or made in France marked on them. I am not positive on dating them, in the mid to late 70`s or perhaps the early 80`s they started making them in Japan. Try here. http://users.skynet.be/mitchell-collectors.org/articles_datingmitchell.html Edited March 26, 2012 by OhioFisherman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walleye wanderer Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 I have 2 Mitchell 300 reels that have never been used. Does anyone know how to tell the age and value of them? Made in France is the preferred models, do you have a pic? I give you $20 for both…kidding! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moosebunk Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 Heavier but durable reels them Mitchells of old. A buddy's withstood many a fish beatings in it's time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wormdunker Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 Paul I have 2 Mitchells, 1 is a 300 (right hand retreive) & the other is a 301 left hand retreive. I have owned them since the mid 60's. I paid $18.00 for the 300 & $26.00 for the 301. To my recollection the shape (body) of the 2 models never changed. Having said that, it would be hard to determine an exact age. I used a 300 as early as 1960 & the foot print never changed. I'm left handed, so at that time I casted with my left hand, then switched the rod over to my right hand & had to retreive with my left hand. Then they came out with the 301 woo hoo!, I could now cast & not switch the rod to the other hand in order to retreive. The 2 I have were made in France, have metal gears & I have the extra spool with both. Post a pic, it would be interesting to see if yours look like mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walleye wanderer Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 I have 2 Mitchell 300 reels that have never been used. Does anyone know how to tell the age and value of them? Forgot, here is a link to practically everything about Mitchell http://www.mitchellreels.net/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_614 Posted March 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 (edited) marked made in Taiwan on the reel seat. marked made in France on the reel body and spool Edited March 26, 2012 by paul_614 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom McCutcheon Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 I also had one of the Mitchel 300 reels back in the sixties. That and an original Cardinal 4 were the only reels with the guts to hold a fresh run salmon or large rainbow back then. The one big complaint with the Mitchel was the bail spring. You always needed to carry a spare or two with you. It got to the point where I could change a weak spring in under 5 minutes, in the low light conditions of a fall morning. I have heard that a good French model will get upwards of $100.00 The Cardinal can go for well above $400. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walleye wanderer Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 I also had one of the Mitchel 300 reels back in the sixties. That and an original Cardinal 4 were the only reels with the guts to hold a fresh run salmon or large rainbow back then. The one big complaint with the Mitchel was the bail spring. You always needed to carry a spare or two with you. It got to the point where I could change a weak spring in under 5 minutes, in the low light conditions of a fall morning. I have heard that a good French model will get upwards of $100.00 The Cardinal can go for well above $400. Unfortunately the one made in Taiwan is not worth very much and the French 300 although sexy was still mass produced and widely collected. As Tom states it is still worth a few bucks and if you search eBay you'll get a good sense of it's value. Tom is also correct on the bulletproof Cardinals (3 & 4's) which are my current object of desire… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishHeadRic Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 marked made in Taiwan on the reel seat. marked made in France on the reel body and spool That first one is definately an 80's model. I had one back then, actually still have it... Not really a collectors item. The second one looks like a 300 from there ninth version series circa 1977-79. The more collectable ones are like the one Walleye Wanderer posted with the round body. They date back from the 50's all the way up to the mid 60's. Back then a couple of reel companys out of europe were doing this body style of reel. Crack/Luxor and Mitchel. These reels allowed for a larger main gear and a more powerful reel in my opinion. Van Stall and Zee Bass both copied these reel because of the power the main gear would afford as well as the simplicity involved in producing the housing. You could strip one of these down in your truck and be back out fishing in 20 minutes. These reels are TANKS!!! A lot of surf guys down here in NY still use these reels today. I have 2 luxors, a 300 and a 200 size as well as a Crack 100. Open them up and pack em with grease and do all the swimming you want with these reels. Like I said... they're tanks! FHR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Bob Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 Millions were made, millions are still around.....they remind me of a small concrete mixer...heavy and noisy....but some guys like collecting them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishHeadRic Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 Down here the guys call em coffee grinders. FHR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dara Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 I have a 60's model. First and only rod and reel outfit my dad bought me. I think it was my 12fth birthday The only mark on it is my initials scratched in because I was going on a school field trip and wanted to take my fishing stuff with me. Ended up with a few creek specs that day. Its sitting tucked away in my shop and will stay there. It came from Pollocks down on Queen or Dundas. We still have a few lure boxes sitting around with that name on them as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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