Written By: Keith Elliott
On Date: 18/11/2009
Lovers of Mitchell reels will have the chance to see the rarest reels ever made by the French company next weekend (Nov 21). They include several examples that are unique, or where fewer than a handful were made. Many of the reels on show in Camden Town, London, are worth more than £1000. “Some of these reels, if they ever came up for sale, would probably make 10 times that figure,” said top US collector Wallace Carney, author of a new book on Mitchell reels, which was published this week.
“This is probably the greatest gathering ever of rare Mitchell reels, and of major figures worldwide in the Mitchell scene,” said Keith Elliott, editor of Classic Angling magazine, which is running the event. “Many of the world’s leading collectors, including several from the US, are bringing along their most valuable pieces.”
Among the reels on show will be:
* one of only two known examples of a reel minted to celebrate the 1millionth 300 to
be made;
* one of only four examples of the “global”, created to celebrate the 20millionth Mitchell;
* a silver 300, also made for reaching the 20 million mark;
* the only 300 PUM ever seen;
* two engraved reels, of which there are only five in the world;
* three reels believed to be unique: the Bicentennial, the Green Rapid and the White Lady.
There will be many other ultra-rare reels on show, such as a “wedding cake”Tournament;
a 300 PRO Gold, a 300A Blime presentation and a 300 half-bail cutaway.
Attendees will also have the chance to see some unique Mitchell footage from the 1950s
and 1960s that Wallace Carney has painstakingly restored to watchable quality.
CDs of the films will be on sale, as will copies of Carney’s new limited-edition book, The Mitchell Classic 300 Spinning Reel:1939-1989.
Among those attending will be Barrie Welham, former managing director of Garcia UK;
JP Gumprich, chief executive with Impecco, Paris, and son of Jules Gumprich, former
president of Impecco, and Mike Read, one of the world’s leading Mitchell collectors. It is also hoped that Mitchell authors Dennis Roberts and Luc de Medts will be there.
If you’ve got an unusual Mitchell, you can bring it along and get it valued. Attendance is free, but you must register to attend. Only those who have registered will be allowed entry. Contact Keith Elliott at keith@pma-group.com to register, or phone 01480 300653. Many of the rare reels will also be on show at a special Mitchell display as part of the
Redditch Antique Tackle Fair at the Abbey Sports Stadium, Redditch, on November 22.
World’s rarest Mitchell reels on show