1957 Garcia Mitchell 350 5/1 Spinning Reel With Wide Smooth Anti

Garcia Mitchell 350 5/1 high speed spinning reel, manufactured in France in 1957, serial number 1212276 engraved on the back of the housing.
Mitchell 350 5/1 engraved
on side plate
Smooth, wide anti reverse lever with no hole
Handle with spring adjustment
Round reel foot
Left hand wind
This reel is the fast retrieve version of the Mitchell 300, with a ratio of 5:1. This model was first released in 1956 as the Rapid, and was renamed the 350 5/1 in 1957. This is from the first production of 350 5/1's, with a wide anti-reverse lever.
This lever was eventually replaced with the more common lever with a small hole in the face.
It has been used, and has rubbing on the paintwork on the edges of the housing and rotating head, and on the foot where the reel attaches to the rod (see pictures). The reel is fully functioning with a smooth retrieve and working anti-reverse. The chrome is a little pitted and the bail spring is strong and flips over with a solid click.
The 350 was made in much smaller quantities than the 300 and is harder to find in good condition. Very few were manufactured with this configuration. This is a clean, fully functioning, 60+ year old reel, with the short lived anti-reverse lever design, to fish with or add to a collection.