This book is the definitive work on Mitchell history. Written by two of the leading lights of French fishing reel history -- Rolands Babulis and Bernard Caminade -- it tells the truly accurate history of the Mitchell Reel from the 1930s through the 1950s. "The Early Years of the Mitchell Fishing Reel" (Published in France, 2021) is a gorgeous spiral bound hardcover book that comes complete with four tremendous framable prints of the earliest Mitchell reels. This book answers a lot of questions that have plagued Mitchell collectors (and divided them) and should stand as the definitive history of the origins and development of the Mitchell reel for this generation of collectors and angling historians.
Based on years of study of both physical specimens as well as documentary history, the French author accessed the native sources (including the production lists hand written by Emile Pugeot) that are absolutely critical to get the story correct. It was either ignorance of these sources, or inability to get access to them, that has caused so many problems over the years. This book tells the story both elegantly and accurately. From the previous ignored (except by the brilliant Bernard Caminade) Mark 1.1 Capano Cap from 1947 to the first Mitchell Mark 1.1 in 1948 to a breakdown of the earliest models, this work makes an incredibly complicated story easy to follow and fascinating to read. Published with numerous color photos, appendices filled with detailed production information, and covering all early models and their boxes, I can't imagine a better book on early Mitchells and their history.
It really is refreshing to finally have a work that is based on available evidence but also clearly denotes where the source material cannot make conclusive statements possible. I can't imagine a better book on Mitchell's origins being written. This book should stand the test of time. "The Early Years of the Mitchell Fishing Reel" was translated wonderfully into English and made in very, very limited numbers (105 signed and numbered copies). It is a beautiful spiral bound hardcover that comes complete with gorgeous prints of early Mitchells suitable for framing. Once these are gone? You'll be paying BIG money if you want one, that is if you find someone willing to sell it.
