Young Martin's Reels Mitchell 300 Made In Taiwan

In this video we discuss the differences between the made in France Mitchell 300 and the made in Taiwan Mitchell 300.
If you like the video, please hit the like button and if you would like to see more of them, please hit the subscribe button. Young Martin’s Reels was created to honor my dad Martin B. Stivers of Louisville KY. He was an avid fisherman and repaired thousands of fishing reels in his lifetime. I spent numerous hours watching him do so, but I have forgotten most of what he taught me. Now that he is gone, and I find myself in need of reel repair, so I am learning how it is done and trying my best to pass it on.
If I can be of assistance, feel free to contact me [e-mail]
I would also like to thank Dennis Kuntz of 2nd Chance Tackle. His videos have helped to fill in the gaps in my “reel” knowledge. Without his KZbin videos I’m afraid Young Martin’s Reels would not exist.
Rick Martin Stivers

[@montedodge341]

Local store sold out all their Taiwan 300's for 10.00 a piece few years a. go. ( I bought 4 of them ) One is used here on a few local lakes where I kayak fish . If I tip over and lose it ,I won't cry 😭 It is a good reel and never had any issues over last 6 years. Thank you for this comparison video 🙂👍

[@Chris-lk8vb]

great video. A Mitchell collector for years after seeing this video I had to bolt out to the garage and rifle through my collection before I could leave a comment!!🙃Well thank goodness all check out good, not just the 300's but also the 386, 496, 308, 304, and the C.A.P. New subscriber, you also helped me out greatly with my Shakespeare 1777. Thanks again, be watching again soon!

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

Chris, you had me puzzled at first and then I realized you were looking for where they were made. I think Chris Jenkins did the same thing when I posted this video. His comments are below. You two have a lot of reels in common.

[@sunysyup1590]

Thanks for showing the differences in the reels. I have been buying old Mitchell 300 reels on ebay and they were the French made ones. I didn't know there were Taiwan made ones. I go fishing with these old reels and it feels like I am back in time to the 1970s. The Mitchell 300 size reel is perfect for the saltwater bonefishes that I catch from shore. I also use the smaller Mitchell 308 reels with 4 pound line to catch bonefishes and it is a real challenge to land them with it, but with 300yds of line on it, it is possible, fights run over ten minutes on a five pound fish. And for owners of these old Mitchell reels, I would strongly recommend keeping a spare crank handle which can still be purchased. I had two reels where the handle broke while in use, and this was due to normal use and age of the aluminum metal.

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

I’ve got a Mitchell 300S on my bench right now waiting for repairs. I’m not sure what’s wrong with it but the bail won’t flip back. I hope it doesn’t need parts. I think it will make a fine reel once you I go though it. The 300S is a skirted spool version of the 300.

[@sunysyup1590]

@@youngmartinsreels5314 That 300S must have predated the Mitchell 900 which is also a 300 reel with the skirted spool. I have a 900 in my collection of Mitchells.

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

I have no idea if it predated the 900. I can’t find any info on it at all. No schematics, no literature, nothing. I can find some parts on EBay but that’s it. What I do know is the bail on this is a real pain.

[@rockapejv]

I am a Mitchell 300, 410 and 440 reel collector in the UK, and as I service and repair all of my own reels, I can confirm that the Taiwan pinion gear and body gasket design you have there, is present on late 70's French made, UK import Mitchell 440A Match models (slotted screws all round), probably also on the 300's of that time? Later on, in the mid to late 80's, the last of the French made Models (my 1988 300A for example) have exactly the same internal parts as that Taiwan made 300 has (3 black finished Philips screws for the body only on the late 80's French models, and Made in France is cast into the side of the main body, as with previous years). I do accept, that possibly some of the parts may have originally come from Taiwan for assembly in France, but this may equally be the other way round...... ? Enjoying your videos!. To add: Your video on the Mitchell 440 auto bail removal and refitting helped me pluck uo the courage to dissasemble my own reels for cleaning, so a big thank you to you for that!

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

Thanks for the above info. I really enjoy and welcome comments. So how did the 440 bail cleaning go?

[@rockapejv]

@@youngmartinsreels5314 Really well actually. I was expecting a really tricky job on my Match reels, but your video instruction made it a breeze. Its unusual for me to be hesitant about working on reels, but I had been putting this job off until I understood the mechanics of it a lot better, and your video helped me to do that. I am glad I did bite the bullet, because under the main springs they were all really grimey and gritty. I was also able to swap over two mid 50's 330 otomatic bails; one was a really clean reel with what looked like an aftermarket roller bail assembly (not like the later 440A version), and the other was the correct type, so I took the correct bail assy from the scruffy reel and put it on the pristine one. I also cleaned and lubed them of course. What I did find, was that the earliest assemblies appear to have a bigger diameter cam roller (unless its an optical illusion?), which on both reels was in the correct position against a slightly raised rim when the bail is open, and it seems to just touch the rotor drum when closed, so maybe less chance of error on the early assemblies? The UK market Match reels are my favourite amongst the French Mitchells, but that bail was a worry.... until now. I am also a collector of the UK made 'Intrepid' brand reels (newer line from 1966 on). I thought I would mention this, because I recently discovered that my favourite model, the later 60's Intrepid New De Luxe, was marketed in the US as the 'Old Pal' 'Bobcat' with a different color scheme (blue rotor and matt black body, as opposed the the UK all gloss black originals). There was also the Intrepid made Reelcat and Tomcat for the USA; the Tomcat was known as the Black Prince in the UK (a very basic starter spinning reel). None of the Intrepids were in the same league as the Mitchells; the Mitchell was the reel we all aspired to own when we were kids, but too expensive and grown up for us... lol. You may have known this already, but if not, there's a bit of useless info for you. Great talking to you! All the best. Paul

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

Paul, I’m so glad it went well. I have been cautioned by some about showing people how to take bails apart. They say I’m tempting people to get themselves into trouble. You are a prime example. You might not have taken it apart without my video. However, it did go well for you, so I’ll soldier on. Well done. I wish more people would read the comments. You guys always provide such amazing information.

[@christopherjenkins2373]

Rick, I have, as I have mentioned, 57 French Mitchells. Of all those Mitchells I do not have the original 300. I do have a 300A which has that seal inside. It is a very different reel from a 300. It also has a stripe around the rotor edge. I’m going to have to look at my 300A to see if it is a Taiwan reel. If it was made in Taiwan I will not be happy about it! I thought it was French but you’ve got me doubting that. I remember noting that the mechanism was different from a regular 300 but it has been a while since I used that reel. I have a 306A that is definitely a French Mitchell and again different from a regular 306. - Chris

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

Chris, I sure hope that isn’t a made in Taiwan reel you have in your collection. You will never be the same if that’s true. I got my 302 conversation kit in today. I’m sorry to say that it came with no instructions so I’ll have to figure it out. I might end up calling you if I get stumped. I’m watching a guy on KZbin modify a Penn Battle to be PUM.

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

Chris, I sure hope that isn’t a made in Taiwan reel you have in your collection. You will never be the same if that’s true. I got my 302 conversation kit in today. I’m sorry to say that it came with no instructions so I’ll have to figure it out. I might end up calling you if I get stumped. I’m watching a guy on KZbin modify a Penn Battle to be PUM.

[@christopherjenkins2373]

@@youngmartinsreels5314 I haven’t seen that Penn Battle conversion video. There are a number of modern reels that come with the bail attached but include a PUM conversion with the reel. That infamous Star 7000 reel comes with a double PUM pickup in the box. That reel however is a true piece of junk! With your skill I have no doubt you’ll easily figure it out. If I remember correctly you don’t have to remove the bail trip mechanism to use this conversion kit. I have an appt. at 12:45pm but should be back by 3:00 our time. You can call me in the morning. I have a 402 I can quickly get that has the same conversion on it. - Chris

[@christopherjenkins2373]

@@youngmartinsreels5314 you right. I will be mortified if that reel is from Taiwan! I’ll have to do a reel exorcism!

[@jimlem42]

Thanks for the info. Does it say “Taiwan” on the reel? If I remember, the original 300’s say “France”.

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

Jim, Yes it says Taiwan on the bottom of the reel foot. The France says Made in France on the side of the body.

[@mosicnflowmuasyaj9748]

Even though is made in Taiwan is still a Mitchel reel company do this to cut cost love them both btw

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

This reel isn’t made a cleanly and precise as the France model but it’s still a nice working reel.

[@outdooropaholger9998]

The handle on the Taiwan made 300 inn't original Mitchell, but Pezon&Michel Luxor maybe. Somewhere in the early 80s they switched the deep metal spool to the plastic ome you have, mid to end 80s it was switched again to a Carbon reinforced one. An ultra flat match spool exists since the 60s and there is a plastic spool that can be turned upside dorwn. The deep Metal spool comes in black, white, grey and shiny silver depending on model and build time. The Taiwanese is an A model by build, the letter "A" was left away since the late 80s. Your red seal plate is missing, It was introduced with the poorer cast quality of the A models, since Mitchell had to cheapen the production costs, and stayed untill the very latest models. Early A models don't have the reinforced foot-case connection. The Phillips screws on the bail came in the latest models only, afaik somwhere in the 90s The phillips screws at the front plate already in the mid 80s The silent anti reverse was an option since the late 70s. The early ones had a "silent anti reverse / anti retour silencieuse"-sticker at the foot to keep them apart.

[@montedodge341]

Local store sold out all their Taiwan 300's for 10.00 a piece few years a. go. ( I bought 4 of them ) One is used here on a few local lakes where I kayak fish . If I tip over and lose it ,I won't cry 😭 It is a good reel and never had any issues over last 6 years. Thank you for this comparison video 🙂👍