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SERIAL NUMBER : (F)1(6)3106 or (F)1(5)3106.

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DATATION : 76/06/01 or 76/06/11.

The serial number is partly erased. The housing type can easily be determined and dated to 1976. (The main characteristic of this period are the slick anti-reverse trigger, the fact that the housing is painted inside, its large foot and the manufacture ID). 

We can assume without a doubt that the serial number starts with the letter "F". 

The two last digits are clearly readable : "06". These are standing for the month of production. The reel was built in June 1976.

The three first dial numbers are supposed to stand for the day of production. They should lies in the range 153-182 (June 1976). We already can read the first and last of the three numbers : 1X3. It could then be either 153 or 163.

In other words the reel has been made in the first of June 1976 or in the eleventh of June 1976.

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OBSERVATION : 

This reel is considered as an oddity.

It has been listed in Dennis Roberts' book (p237).

It is also mentioned in James Partridge's study (p175).

It is a standard Garcia Mitchell 408 black in color.

It could be a factory error or a custom order.

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The paint is an original factory finish usually used on the 308 and the 358 models.

In the year of 1976, Garcia Mitchell made many successive modifications to the 408 model. It is quite difficult to date them precisely.

All the parts of this reel seems to be original. Except two of them : 

- The handle shank is a Mitchell 308 one. It seems that everything has been made for this reel to look like a mere 308 (wether it is a factory error or a custom order).

- The pick-up has a transitional first Type bail arm. This haven't probably been factory made because this type of bail wasn't produced anymore in 1976. It has been mounted on Mitchell 408 at the end of 1970 and for a very short period of time.

I would guess that the owner has changed it himself : the four spires bail spring which matched this old pick-up wasn't adapted anymore to the rotor.

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