International 50 W 2 Speed

[The Great Maudu]

Greetings, I just purchased a 50 W 2 Speed on eBay. This reel is for a new shark rod I'm building. It is my understanding that a 50 W 2Speed is a conversion done by Cal Sheets shop sometime in the past. I believe they also blue printed, double dogged and drag mods. Any info you can share would be appreciated.

[Swami805]

Check inside the side plate, there should be a label from cal's in there. Maybe give them a call on Monday and the could translate it for you
Haven't seen you around here in awhile, good to see you're around and kicking

[alantani]

if it is a conversion, then it will likely be a single drag system.  a double drag system is preferred. it depends on how much drag you will need.  you might also be able to change the belleville configuration from "()()" to the stiffer "(())" position.  that might help a little.  several unknowns here. 

[The Great Maudu]

Thanks for the help. This is the only international I have owned, so I know next to nothing about them. I assumed it is a conversion because it has the 50 W stamped on it. Did Penn make 50W's with 2 speed?

[Robert Janssen]

All Cal's two-speed conversions have a ≈8 mm wide spacer ring next to the right side plate.

Penn made 50W, yes. But if it was a Penn two-speed, it would have an S, as in 50SW.

If someone took the sideplate and innards of a 50S and put it on a 50W frame, that would work too.

Can't see in your pic if there is a spacer ring.
And like someone said, there will be Cal's sticker and probably a date inside.

[oldmanjoe]

Giving the angle of the picture , the side plate is to close to the reel seat , no spacer plate .

[Jim Fujitani]

I'd bet that your reel is a factory 2-speed.  The button in the center of the reel handle is the dead give away.  Push the button in to change speeds, pull the handle out to change back.  Of course, some one could have changed the innards (gearing, etc) to change it to a single speed, but who in their right mind would do that to Cal Sheets treated reel?