Another Vintage Mitchell Reel Question? Reel Spool Arbors: Has anyone on the Forum ever used spinning reel spool arbors before? I think they are used to put on the center hub of a...

ctjenkins54 Loc: Apex, North Carolina

Has anyone on the Forum ever used spinning reel spool arbors before? I think they are used to put on the center hub of a spool before installing line as a way of increasing the diameter of the spool hub and thus decreasing the amount of line needed to fill the spool. Have any of you used these on your reel? I have some old vintage reels that hold huge amounts of line especially if you are trying to use braided line. Mostly I only use mono of these reels as that was what they were designed for but putting 450 yds on a spinning reel for the surf is just not that necessary on the NC coast unless you’re shark fishing or something like that. I’m just curious if any of you have used arbors on your reels and how it worked for you. I have four of them but haven’t tried it. Honestly I thought they were for displaying reels or something like that.

smitty77

I use them when fish w/2 or 4lb test.

DeeJay Loc: Southwest Virginia

Thry used to come with Mitchell 300. Some earlier bait casters with them. Haven't seen any in a lot of years. They would be hard to find. Some Mitchells also came with 2 spools, one shallow for small line, and one deep for larger and more line. Those spoons would be hard to find. A lot of those spools would crack and break when the line was wrapped to tight, or in storage, or left in the sun for extended periods of time.

ctjenkins54 Loc: Apex, North Carolina

DeeJay wrote:

Thry used to come with Mitchell 300. Some earlier bait casters with them. Haven't seen any in a lot of years. They would be hard to find. Some Mitchells also came with 2 spools, one shallow for small line, and one deep for larger and more line. Those spoons would be hard to find. A lot of those spools would crack and break when the line was wrapped to tight, or in storage, or left in the sun for extended periods of time.

Everything you mentioned matches what I know. First arbor I got came with a Mitchell 33O Ottomatic (auto bail) and the reel came with the two spools just like you said. It seems to me that the Mitchell Co. really had their act together building great reels with innovative options for their time. I’m not sure I’d trust these arbors that I have after hearing what you and others are saying. The only other one I’ve found was from the DAM Quick West German company for their Model 270 Super. i restored one of those reels. In typiCal German fashion that arbor isn’t plastic and you couldn’t easily break it with a hammer! I’ve seen arbors for fly reels but that’s just not my thing. I’m not that coordinated.

Thanks so much for giving me an answer to my question.

DeeJay Loc: Southwest Virginia

Quick reels also came with 2 spools, some models, large and small capacity. The bigest problem was they were heavy. All metal very strong dependable reel. Still have some I don't use, sold an ocean reel a few years ago, never used, never had line on it, still in the box.

ctjenkins54 Loc: Apex, North Carolina

DeeJay wrote:

Quick reels also came with 2 spools, some models, large and small capacity. The bigest problem was they were heavy. All metal very strong dependable reel. Still have some I don't use, sold an ocean reel a few years ago, never used, never had line on it, still in the box.

Boy I wish I’d been around for that sale. Sometime I want to get a 550. I use a DAM Quick 270 Super in the surf all the time but I wouldn’t want to cast it a lot such as top-water or jigging. As you say they are very heavy. I bought one cheap with a broken handle and put a nice power knob handle on it. It’s a great surf reel. I have one of the smaller reels as well and it works great for freshwater fishing. These reels are almost indestructible. I love them. Even their spool arbors are very strong. Thanks for sharing your experience with these wonderful instruments!

DeeJay Loc: Southwest Virginia

I have a 220 that is in mint condition, 2 spools, just too heavy to use. If intrested i may be able to get that serf reel back. It has been used very little since I sold it. He may be willing to resell it. DEEJAY

ctjenkins54 Loc: Apex, North Carolina

DeeJay wrote:

I have a 220 that is in mint condition, 2 spools, just too heavy to use. If intrested i may be able to get that serf reel back. It has been used very little since I sold it. He may be willing to resell it. DEEJAY

I’d be more interested in the surf reel since that is what I collect. Any idea what the number was for that reel - I.e. 440, 550, 270 etc.? I just spent a bundle on a new Mitchell 396 PUM so I need to sell something myself to get more funds available and not have to sleep on the couch - if you know what I mean.

DeeJay Loc: Southwest Virginia

I understand, not sure of the number, but I will find out, Saturday or Sunday. I do know that It's only been used a few times, they go to the beach a couple times a year. So it may have been used 5-6 times.

ctjenkins54 Loc: Apex, North Carolina

DeeJay wrote:

I understand, not sure of the number, but I will find out, Saturday or Sunday. I do know that It's only been used a few times, they go to the beach a couple times a year. So it may have been used 5-6 times.

That’s just barely broken in. With a DAM Quick Using it just 5 - 6 times is nothing. I’ve taken apart and repaired at least 4 of them and they simply don’t break. Parts can be very difficult to find when they do. I had to work harder on the 270 Super than the smaller reels. You have to knock out metal pins to disassemble the reel and had to drill out the handle to install a power knob. The metal in those reels is very hard and durable! This 270 Super was manufactured sometime around 1962 in West Berlin.

I’m attaching some photos:

DAM Quick 270 Super
DAM Quick 270 Super...

DeeJay Loc: Southwest Virginia

The reels i have are a nrwer model those look a lot like the Cardinal 4's of that era.

ctjenkins54 Loc: Apex, North Carolina

DeeJay wrote:

The reels i have are a nrwer model those look a lot like the Cardinal 4's of that era.

I’ve never had a Cardinal but I know they are popular and usually bring pretty high prices for collectors. This 270 Super is an older reel. It was already in use before the first Penn Spinfisher was ever made. I prefer to fish with my Penn Z reels, Penn “Greenies,” Daiwa Silver Series, and my Mitchell reels.

Here is a photo of a sweet Mitchell 396 PUM I got yesterday:

DeeJay Loc: Southwest Virginia

Nice shape, you ever fish Falls Lake? My first time was 1993, had lots of good trips there.

ctjenkins54 Loc: Apex, North Carolina

DeeJay wrote:

Nice shape, you ever fish Falls Lake? My first time was 1993, had lots of good trips there.

Yep! Fished there but water skied more. All that was back in the 80’s for me. Though I grew up here in Wake CO. I moved away in 1985 and didn’t come back until 2013. That North Raleigh area has exploded during that time to where I hardly recognize it anymore. I lived in Wake Forest form 1979-81 while I was in seminary. It was during that time that I fished a few times in Falls Lake. I remember when that lake wasn’t there back in the 50s and 60s.

DeeJay Loc: Southwest Virginia

A friend lived in Wake Forest, and later in Rocky Mount. My first time there was 1993. After my buddy moved 2006 we camprd ai Rollingview and the camp ground hwy 50 bridge 4-5 times. It's not the fishery as in the 90,s, but it is still good enough to wa t to go back. You're right about the area growing, the first time I went through was in 84. I 40 was 2 lane from Raleigh to Durham, NOW 4-6, big change , fasting growing se tor in the U.S. Are you retired?