The dating of Mitchell reels by serial number is a complex and difficult topic. At times in the past, it has been both contentious and divisive. It is our hope that we can move beyond these former struggles and advance together to expand our understanding of our favorite fishing reel. With that in mind, we have updated some information on dating reels. When the Museum staff discovers or is presented with verifiable primary source data, we will update the knowledge available here.  It is both our obligation and privilege to present the most current and accurate information available. 

Pre-Serial Numbers:

The first four versions of the 300, called “The Mitchel” at the time, did not have the 300/301 model number engraved. The first two versions did not have serial numbers at all, nor did the beginning of the 3rd.

1st Version-1939/40 No Serial Numbers but a “unique” #5 is stamped on foot.
2nd Version-1940/46 No Serial Numbers but various stamps on foot.
3rd Version-1946/49 No Serial Numbers but, various stamps on foot

Serial Numbers Begin, 1949-1953:

Serial Numbers first begin within the 3rd version release. These have a letter prefix starting with “A” followed by only 5 numeric characters. The serial numbers were stamped on the a bottom of the foot at first. Between SN A66544 and SN A74901 it was moved to the Housing.

The Prefixes themselves are serial number blocks. There is a very long standing tradition in Europe, and particularly in France, for the use of a prefix in a serial number block. In Mitchells case, this number block was for 99,999 reels. We know these were blocks because the early Saltwater (later 302) reels used a prefixed serial number as well. We know when their production started (1953) and the prefix these reels use is different than the one used at that same time for the “Mitchell” reel.  In fact, the “Saltwater” reel continued to use prefixes after they were removed from the “Mitchell”. This complicates things for dating reels. If the prefixes were year codes, as they later are, it would make things much easier.

The estimated breakdowns are:

A Prefix: 1949-1952. The exact starting date for serial numbers remains unclear. Garcia claimed in advertisements that they first imported the “Mitchell” in 1947. Those reels were undoubtably 2nd version reels. Between 1947 and 1949 Mitchell continued to develop their reel. 1949 is likely a good starting point for the serialization of reels.

B Prefix: 1952-1953. There is solid primary source information showing the B prefix was in production in 1953. That information also suggests that the B prefix reels may have been in production by late 1952. See below this list for the Garcia advertisement that made this information clear.

C Prefix: Late 1953-1954.

Due to recent discoveries, the dating of reels from late 1954 through 1955 is less clear. There is, however, some information to guide our estimations for dates. The New York Times reported that Garcia imported 300,000 spinning reels in 1955, most of which were “Mitchell” reels. We also know Carpano and Pons celebrated the exportation of their 10,000 crate of Mitchell reels in 1955. Each crate contained 60 reels for a total of 600,000 reels. The following serial number blocks were originally attributed to the dates in parentheses. Obviously, with primary source information to show what reels were being produced in 1953, these dates must be later. At some point in 1955, the date estimates are accurate again. Wallace Carney used verifiable events, such as production milestones, news articles, known address change dates, new product availability dates and advertisements, to establish fixed points in the dating of the Mitchell 300. The first of these points occur in 1955.

We present this data in its original form as a reference. This block of reels would have later production dates than the original estimates:

(1953)-SN 40779 to 203519
(1954)-SN 235985 to 617792
(1955)-SN 624001 to 1004270 (SN 624001 Was the earliest 5th Version I’ve found)

The dates from this point on have high confidence:

1956-SN 1040182 to 1517887
1957-SN 1520736 to 1883288
1958-SN 1889513 to 2225412 (SN 1889513 was the earliest 6th Version I’ve found)

NOTE: Between SN 1883288 and SN 1889513 marks the beginning of matching Serial Numbers on boxes. It’s also when Carpano and Pons moved the serial number stamp forever back to the reel’s foot.

1959-SN 2282964 to 2959786
1960-SN 3067452 to 3579119
1961-SN 3616448 to 4218719
1962-SN 4267369 to 4870499
1963-SN 4918411 to 5494100
1964-SN 5546867 to 5953668
1965-SN 5996632 to 6579351
1966-SN 6656941 to 7276825
1967-SN 7282575 to 7895887
1968-SN 7959216 to 8570524 (SN 7959216 was the earliest 7th Version I’ve found)
1969-SN 8603501 to 9244733 1970- SN 9295633 to 9963012.

When serial numbers were nearing 10 million in 1970, Mitchell changed to alphanumeric serial numbers with Letter prefixes. This makes it very easy to date these reels by just the serial number Letter prefix. This started with the Letter “A prefix and so on:

1971-A
1972-B
1973-C

In 1974, Mitchell switched to lot numbers. These numbers include useful production information. They kept the letter prefix for the year. A break down of how to read these lot numbers, including finding the EXACT date of production of your reel, is available in the “Articles” section of the Museum. Due to the nature of the new number system, duplicate numbers exist from this point on.

1974-D (Matching Serial Number stickers on boxes ended during this year)
1975-E
1976-F
1977-G (SN G018501 was the earliest 8th Version I’ve found)
1978-H
1979-J-(The letter I was not used due to its similarity to # 1)
1980-K
1981-L
1982-M
1983-N

Mitchell abbreviates their lot numbers. The letter prefix is still the year of manufacture.

1984-P (it has been said that Mitchell started 1984 with the letter O, but we have found no evidence of this)
1985-Q
1986-R 1987 -S
1988-T (The last of the serial numbers. Mitchell closed the factory in 1988/89)
1989-T (New Old Stock Parts were mited quantities f used O make Mitchell reels that were still being hand assembled in France)

Serial Numbers End
1990-serial numbers with few exceptions such as the Mitchell 300 PRO Anniversary that has been documented as one model still being assembled in France however; most models were now being manufactured in Taiwan. The End!