Mitchell vs Pflueger

RAM · Post by **RAM** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 9:21 am

I must be missing something here. Do agree it is predjudice to an extent, but how do we get over seven hundred posts on a modern reel like Mitchell and only one inquiry every few weeks on a Pflueger. Enterprise and Shakespeare (and successors) made over a thousand different models over a century of manufacturing. There must be 20 Pflueger collectors for every Mitchell collector. No problem here as even the few Pflueger questions that do arise keep me busy running down info. Don't really need more. Just curious and planting a seed for discussion.
Bad Bob

PS: Deke-Did I misspell Mitchell? Did I misspell misspell?

RAM · Post by **RAM** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 8:53 am

OK-So no one wants to discuss this. So I'll ask a question that should really be put in the Mitchell column I suppose: Just how many different models did Mitchell make?

I do remember recommending back in the Dark Ages (50s, 60s) to a few friends who were wanting to get into fishing here to buy one, as they seemed at the time to be the most popular spinners out there. Even showed a friend how to cast his and (I swear this is true) I caught a trout on my first cast with it! Probably jinxed that reel forever. They must have sold a bozillion of those jewels!

Bad Bob

PS: Just noticed Dr. Todd's posts on the new limited edition Mitchell book, which attests to their popularity!

RAM · Post by **RAM** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:11 am

Another observation: There have been 21 articles in the Reels News on Meisselbachs (I know I must have misspelled that!), but only five on Mitchells-ever. We should have more contributors for such a popular reel!
In fact, we should have more contributors for a bunch of makers! We can't depend forever on a handful of guys writing the great majority of the articles.
BB

SWIM JIG · Post by **SWIM JIG** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 1:10 pm

usa, BAD BOB? DO YOU GET THE REEL NEWS? HMMMNN!, each issue I do my best to do a artical on a different reel with a total description on how to clean and lube it! Even the Charter Boat captains see it! Where have you been? If I have a factory repair page or parts list and it has a picture of a reel I will do it in the (REEL FIX ) If you dont get the REEL NEWS? then , and We will get you a years subscription for a XMAS present ! YOUR Ohio Conection Col. Milton Lorens aka swim jig of Amherst Ohio

RAM · Post by **RAM** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 2:21 pm

Got that five number from the library-back issue guide. As for the Reel Fix column, I have to admit, if it is not a Pflueger reel I don't muddle my mind trying to figure how a bucket of parts go together. If I had one of those non-Pflueger jobbies you describe I would savor the info, particularly if I had taken it apart and couldn't get it back together.
Keep on takin' them reels apart Uncle Miltie! You are right at the top of that handful of contributors I refered to!

Bad Bob
PS: I do read most of the other articles. Have all issues including the first!

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 8:44 pm

RAM wrote:Another observation: There have been 21 articles in the Reels News on Meisselbachs (I know I must have misspelled that!), but only five on Mitchells-ever. We should have more contributors for such a popular reel!
In fact, we should have more contributors for a bunch of makers! We can't depend forever on a handful of guys writing the great majority of the articles.
BB

Bab Bob: Back in the old days when I was the Editor of The Reel News I convinced three prominent Mitchell collectors to write a column. They did so for a few issues and then they decided that since I insisted on being the editor they parted ways.
Bad Phil

SWIM JIG · Post by **SWIM JIG** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 3:36 am

jump canadian usa, BAD BOB, you like Phil have wrote books on reels, and yes as far as my factory manuls go back Pfluger is before Mitchel, However Pfluger was a novelty in off American Shores, Remeber severalother countries also made improvments to Mitchels, Like JAPAN, China, etc! Pfluger generaly stayed on American ground and did ship to CANADA ! As for My REEl FIX Coloumn I have done a few articals on Pflugers, in fact i have one here I cannot find a factory breakdon of its the Pfluger FREE SPEED no. 1914Made in the USA on the tail plateis Patented no 1450738 &no 1608287) the foot has the leter B on it its a none level wind reelwith a free spool lever on the handle side with a drag knob on the front plate, ie the hande side! Has a very small spool spindle that holds the line , the ratio is 4 to 1 and easly holds 100 yards of older line or 225 yards of 30lb power pro line! This is the only one I have ever owned, got it in Baltimore Maryland about 1954, As i recall it had brown handles however I droped it once and the handle was bent bad so I put a Akron green handle on it! If you have a factory paper on it I will do a reel FIX COLUMN on it! Col. Milton Lorens aka swim jig of mherst Ohio

RAM · Post by **RAM** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 9:24 am

1914 paper : Don't think I have it Milt, but I'll check later today (do have the reel).
Cheers! BB

Phil: Most of us need someone's editing skills. I can't write comments in "Some Other Stuff" without errors! Any writer who thinks his work is divinely inspired is deluding him(or her)self. Regardless, if Mitchells are so popular (and I assume they are) surely there is a collector or two who can contribute on a regular basis. I recently read an editor's comments in a leading fly fishing magazine that some of our more popular flyfishing writers (the ones with books and articles in those leading flyfishing magazines) need some serious editing!
Always good to get a note from old Phil (who is younger than me!).
BB

Araye50 · Post by **Araye50** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 12:36 pm

Sorry, but I disagree w/the basis of your theory. There are dramatically more Mitchell reels loose in the world than Pfluegers & very dramatically more Mitchell reels in play than Pfluegers. My guess would be quite the opposite of your conclusion that "There must be 20 Pflueger collectors for every Mitchell collector."

This would mean that there "should be" far more Mitchell collectors around to post on ORCA. My guess is that b/c Mitchells are relatively newer, more abundant & inexpensive they not only appeal to larger numbers of collectors, but also accumulate into larger collections when compared to Pflueger collections.

I collect both & can attest to how easy it is to find Mitchells & hard it is to find Pfluegers. This results in hundreds of Mitchells found vs. just dozens of Pfluegers. IMO it would be natural for a collector w/just dozens of Pfluegers to concentrate on writing articles more. If you tilt the scale further towards rarer antiques like "Meisselbachs" I could see a collector going years between acquisitions, often at substantial cost, allowing even more time to ruminate about writing articles.

Chances are better that a Mitchell collector is also a Mitchell fisherman. Guys who are into antique reels may be more interested in investment values, whereas Mitchells aren't antiques, merely being old & obsolete. IMO the average Mitchell collector is more driven by nostalgia & curiosity, while the Pflueger collector may be thinking cash value.

My interest is in refurbishing/repairing & I enjoy that considerable commitment of time. Threads on Mitchell have frequently become minefields of inflexible positions, ego derailing evasions & discouraging resolution of even simple questions. This pretty well supressed any motivation I might've had to write an article on Mitchell.

In publishing Mitchell fans have done well, there being a fair number of interesting books on these reels.

For me the most glaring disconnect is the lack of a book on PENN history. Since contributing to ORCA is both voluntary & open to all, we see what members freely offer. Nobody is under any obligation to do anything your mashing of numbers might suggest "should" happen.

Jerry J in OK · Post by **Jerry J in OK** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:32 pm

Good old Pfluegers...I run across one almost every day but since I have most of them already I just let it stay for someone else. I recently got an 11 year old young man interested in Pfluegers and old reels. Mitchell is a good reel but I will take Pfluegers anytime and so will young Chris. I guess I am trying to say to each his own.

BTW Bad Bob, I haven't disappeared just been busy. Remember the project I was working on with the Summit reels and the relationship between the Form No. on the insert and the year the reel was made? Wellllllllllll, I am about thru with it and am fairly confident with my findings. I will be sending it to you sooner or later.

Jerry

Robin Sayler · Post by **Robin Sayler** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:40 am

Hey Jerry, good to hear you still find pfluegers out there, I've been a little dry here with the findings.

That was quite a project you took on there. I'm glad to here you may have made some sense of it all.

BTW, I fish with a couple mitchells but collect strictly pflueger reels.

Jerry J in OK · Post by **Jerry J in OK** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:25 pm

Howdy Robin...I have been very busy. I started a olittle retail tackle business and it keeps me busy. Which Mitchells do you fish with. If I find any parts reels I'll holler. When I get the Summit thing finalized I'll send you a copy also.

Jerry

orourke · Post by **orourke** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:15 pm

Hey Robin:

Still waiting to hear what you want for the Blue Heron

Dave "O"

Robin Sayler · Post by **Robin Sayler** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:39 am

Hey Dave, Still looking for it. Things have been crazy around here for the last couple weeks.

I'll let you know when I find it.

Robin

Richard Lodge · Post by **Richard Lodge** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:44 pm

Hi guys: I was glad to see Phil weigh in on his experience with possible Mitchell article writers for the Reel News. Besides Ben Wright and his Spinning Lines column, I rarely see any submissions having to do with spinning reels. But, like Bob or one of you other ORCAns noted, there are a number of different makers that rarely see the pages of The Reel News.
For anyone with an interest and inkling in writing an article focused on Mitchells or any other spinning reel, ORCA does pay a small stipend for published work. But I can speak from experience that our regular contributors research and write for the love of it and the enjoyment of our hobby - collecting reels and learning about them. I think that's what this is all about, which is why we would all love to see more articles - even one-off efforts - about reels many of us might know little about. I've been trying to encourage some members to put pen to paper (or, more realistically, fingers to keyboard) on the obscure but interesting line of Trowbridge, Boston, reels; the reels stamped Spaulding & Sons that come up for auction from time to time; and dozens of others. I know Phil welcomed all ideas and considered all offerings and I do the same.
I am also very interested in groups of photos that show good, clear closeups and details of reels. With a little historical info and some clear photos of antique (or not-so-antique) reels, I can put together pages in The Reel News that I think most ORCA members would find interesting and educational. So how about it, folks?

Mitchell vs Pflueger

Mitchell vs Pflueger

DO YOU READ THE ORCA MAG???

Mitchels? not as old as PFUGERS HOWEVER, before WW 2 ,

Bad Bob's good question