Fleamarket Find- Cal's 12T

Stan · March 14, 2017, 12:14:18 AM

Found a nice 12T Cal's 2 speed at a fishing flea market this weekend. Paid $300 for what you see, including the box and pouch. The reel looks to be in very good shape, and I am torn between fishing it and keeping it on the shelf. The only paperwork is what you see...I'm going to call Eric at Cal's and see if he can find the record. The seller claims that the max drag is about 15 lbs, but I'd really like to see what it was made for.

I also picked up two other reels in great condition for a reasonable price.......a 140 and a green 704 (I'll post pics of those later)

Shark Hunter · March 14, 2017, 12:17:01 AM

Nice Reel.

David Hall · March 14, 2017, 02:05:09 AM

Good score and depending on what Cal did with it a possibly exceptional score. I picked one up that was fished pretty heavy but only had about 8lbs of drag when zi got it, after playing with it for awhile I sent it down to Cal and he did the super 12 conversion, added casting bearings, Blueprinted, increased the drag plate size, it now face fish 20lbs at strike with a max of 50. But it's also a $600.00 investment.

Stan · March 14, 2017, 02:39:29 AM

Thanks. Not sure what Cal did...I emailed Eric, who said they have no way of checking based on just the serial number. I figured it was a good deal, if just a conversion; and anything else is just gravy. Will I be able to tell what he did when I open it up?

David Hall · March 14, 2017, 04:01:33 AM

You will be able to tell to some degree.
As in if he has done the "super 12" you will have a larger drag plate and drag washer. Of course you may not be able to tell without knowing what the stock one looks like. So if you decide to crack it open post up some pics. There are a few international specialists, (I am not one) that can tell you the difference. In my case when I cracked it open everything was stock except Cal had done the 2 speed conversion.

reel man · March 14, 2017, 04:53:03 AM

Bolt the reel on a rod, ramp up the drag till the free spool goes away in neutral then start backing off till you get good free spool. Then run the line thru the guides move the engagement lever up to strike, and see what you're getting on a spring scale with a full bend in the rod.

If you're getting 15# at strike the reel was set up to fish 50#.

Tightlines667 · March 14, 2017, 05:23:24 AM

Quote from: reel man on March 14, 2017, 04:53:03 AM
Bolt the reel on a rod, ramp up the drag till the free spool goes away in neutral then start backing off till you get good free spool. Then run the line thru the guides move the engagement lever up to strike, and see what you're getting on a spring scale with a full bend in the rod.

If you're getting 15# at strike the reel was set up to fish 50#.

X2

You can test max. drag at strike and will know if any drag components have been modified from stock. Cal's gears (that come with the 2-speed conversion) are 'beefier' then stock as well.

Nice find!

I always wanted one of the 12s or 6s but can't justify tye cost nowadays. I would have trouble passing one up at a fleamarket or garage find though.

coastal_dan · March 14, 2017, 03:28:28 PM

Great score! Looks to be in fantastic condition!

Jim Fujitani · March 14, 2017, 03:52:57 PM

Nice find. That International II series reel is in like-new condition.

I believe the first two numbers of the serial number indicate the year of manufacture. The reel clamp looks like an aftermarket upgrade. If Cal did any other work on the reel, there may be a sticker on the inside of the tail plate, with notes of what was done.

josa1 · March 14, 2017, 04:00:12 PM

I acquired a couple of 16s that had been modified by Cals to fish 60 pound. Each of these reels had a little stick on tag inside the left side plate that showed the 60 pound, date it was done and Cal's initials. Maybe yours has this tag in it. If you think it is important I could take a picture of one of the tags and post it here.

I have since sold both the reels but somehow I still have one of the tags. Guess I forgot to put it back in the reel after servicing.

I had the same luck with Eric. I called him but he said they did not keep records on their mods. When I opened up the reel I found the tags on each of them.

josa1

Aiala · March 14, 2017, 04:15:02 PM

Whatever Cal did or didn't do, that reel is MUCH too nice to be a shelf queen... give her a chance to strut her stuff!

~A~

Stan · March 14, 2017, 09:59:03 PM

Quote from: Aiala on March 14, 2017, 04:15:02 PM
Whatever Cal did or didn't do, that reel is MUCH too nice to be a shelf queen... give her a chance to strut her stuff!

~A~

That's what I am thinking!!!

Stan · March 14, 2017, 11:29:38 PM

Okay...So I opened her up and found a tag....

Looks like Cal made it a 40 pound class reel. I used a scale to measure the drag...at the point just before losing freespool, I had 12 lbs at strike and 14 lbs at full.

Here are a few more pics of the inside:

Dominick · March 14, 2017, 11:55:54 PM

Pretty cool to find that tag inside. Like finding a note in a bottle. Dominick

Tightlines667 · March 15, 2017, 12:51:35 AM

Looks like new gears, 2 speed mech, spool shaft, and headplate spacer for the 2 speed conversion. A steeper curve was likely achieved with heavier bellevilles and possibly a different cam. The cooling shield looks like a mod, and their may have been a heavier drag spring installed. Bellevilles alone may have achieved the conversion. It would be cool to compare the 40lb/2-speed conversion parts side-by-side w/a bone stock 12t.

Regardless a good find, and a reel that was made to be fished.

John