IDEAL

IDEAL
I bought it from Cabela's of USA, because it was not sold in Japan.

	Mitchell IDEAL2000 Although it was introduced in Japan, I could not buy it. So, I bought it from USA. Weight: 276g Ratio: 5.5 Spool diameter: 41mm The spool, rotor, body and handle are aluminum. Made in China.
	Total bail control system This is the main feature of IDEAL. If the rotor went too left when you picked up the line, the A/R system keeps the rotor the wrong position. But it is the case on the ordinary spinning reels.
	Open the bail...
	The A/R system becomes free. So, you can cast normally.
	You can control the line by feathering, because the A/R system is free. When the bail is closed, the A/R system becomes "ON".
	This is the inside of the rotor. The lever of the opposite arm of the bail arm downs, when the bail is opened.
	The lever pushes down the black ring . The ring changes the A/R to free.
	Mitchell spool concept Its spools can be changed without removing the drag knob. IDEAL's spool is same to 300X series.
	Bail tripping Smooth returning of bail arm is "Mitchell".
	Handle It keeps Mitchell image. Although the crank is heavier than old type, it is beautiful.
	Knob Good knob is also Mitchell's tradition. It is soft. The two holes are made for the light weight and the molding. Don't remove the shaft of knob, because the threadlocker is too strong. If you turn the shaft, it may be broken.
	Bail stopper IDEAL has the bail stopper on this side too. It prevents from breakage of bail wire.
	Rotor design Its curve is beautiful. The counter weight is smaller than 300X. It was improved.
	Drive gear bearings The bearings are set from outside. But its zinc covers are heavy.
	Quartz was same construction.
	Mechanism Its worm shaft is supported by this way. I feel dangerous. The speed of the oscillation is too fast. The spool does one cycle only by about 1.1 turn of handle.
	This fast oscillation is same to 300X series. The reason of the speed of these models came from Shimano. Shimano's 98 spinning reels had same fast oscillation. Mitchell and other foreign brands want to go the same way of Shimano, because Shimano's spinning reels are best seller in US and Europe.
	But I don't think Shimano's spinning reels are good. See their oscillation ! 98 was too fast. 01 was too slow. 05 is normal. What is this ? And more, only Shimano uses the worm shaft oscillation. Is it better than S cum ? Do you like their weak bail wires ?
	Construction Its one piece body is not good. Although the one piece body of AbuGarcia C600 series is easy to maintain, IDEAL's cannot be taken apart easily. The plates for BB are fixed with tapping screws. The dangerous support of worm shaft is also from this construction. Cheaper Avocet's gear system and body construction are much better than this.
	Swedish engineering (?) Pure Fishing develops their spinning reels in US and Sweden. French division was abolished (!). So, perhaps, IDEAL was designed by AbuGarcia.

But I think IDEAL is Mitchell.

There are two way for good feathering. One is the rotor brake which is used on Shimano and Daiwa. Its origin was Cardinal 33/44.

The other way is the A/R switch of Mitchell 300 series. Because angler can cast and reel with free position, he can do feathering perfectly. When he has to take the net, he can change A/R to ON without release the handle knob.

IDEAL's "Total bail control" is same concept.

Moreover, its spool concept, handle and knob, bail tripping taste are "Mitchell".

(2006/5/10)

About "Total bail control"

I sent the letter of the 95 model spinning reels to Shimano R/D in 1996. I wrote,"Although Shimano shortened the leg for feathering, its bail wire blocks the forefinger, The rotor brake of Cardinal 33/44 is good idea. And, if the A/R is canceled when the bail is opened, it is good for feathering".

So, Shimano's spinning reels have the rotor brake system, I thought that Shimano didn't choice the second idea.

I sent the E-mail of 308X to Mitchell France in 2002. I wrote, "Although 308X is good, its bail wire prevents of feathering. Shimano's rotor brake is good for it. But, I have another idea. If the A/R is canceled when the bail is opened, it is good for feathering"

But, I was surprised in 2003, when I saw the web site of Japanese patent agency. Shimano got the patent of my second idea in 1997.

Moreover, I was surprised in 2004 Tokyo fishing show, because Mitchell IDEAL had the same idea of mine.

I sent the apologizing E-mail to Mitchell soon. PFJ researched the patent.

Although PFJ said, "Patent is not problem", IDEAL has not been sold in Japan.

I don't know the reason of it. But if the reason was the Shimano's patent, it was not fair. Because, although they get the patent, they didn't use it.

The long life bail spring of spinning reels and magnetic spool control of bait reels were same cases. These mechanism were used in 80's by all manufacturers. But all manufactures had known these mechanisms.

Why had they not used these mechanism ? It is patents. The American small company had the patents. But they didn't make fishing reels !

All the anglers in the world had to use the spinning reels of the breakable bail spring and not easy bait reels.

I don't think that the state of the patent is good.

（2006/5/10）

MITCHELL