Apparent size 10/0 Senator with side plate/badging of 12/0 Model 116L

[Kenkeay]

Good afternoon:
I'm wondering if anyone knows if it is possible that Penn may have, either intentionally or by mistake, assembled a size 10/0 Penn Senator (usually badged 10/0 and a model 116A), using the right side Bakelite plate of a 12/0 Penn Senator model 116L. In other words, I guess, has what I'm seeing been found in other reels?
This summer I purchased online what was described as Penn 12/0 Senator model 116L. It does have "12/0" embossed on the right plate Bakelite, consistent with the item description. It was the first reel I bought larger than size 9/0. When I received it I was surprised that the reel is only slightly larger than a 9/0 Senator model 115.  I cleaned and serviced it.  The photo "12 right side plate" shows the reel with its 12/0 imprint and red torpedo handle.

The reel may have been of relatively late production, with pressed ball bearing fittings, and apparently stainless O rings and post and stand screws.  It was either extremely well cared for or only very lightly fished or both, with few scratches, no Bakelite chipping and no corrosion or pitting on chromed parts.  There's no external or internal indication of damage repair, for example an apparent mix of older (more worn) and newer appearing parts.

Last week I received the first model 116A 10/0 senator I have purchased or seen in real life.  It has the expected 10/0 badging on the right plate.  It is externally identical in size to what I bought as a 12/0. The photo "10 right side plate" shows the right plate of that as-yet un-serviced reel, including the embossed 10/0 and its black Bakelite handle.
 
The last three photos show the two reels next to each other in an oblique view, end on from the right-side plates, and from the side.  Both reels are approximately 4 and 7/16 inches wide between the outer faceplate rings.   I researched the reels online, and the staff at Mystic Reel parts (many thanks to them) confirmed what I saw that the differences between the 10/0 and 12/0 Senators are in the width of the spool, posts, and stand.  The aluminum spool on my "12/0" reel has no part number, but its reel stand is stamped "30 116A", which the Mystic Parts website identifies as the stand for the narrower 10/0 model 116A.

So I'm a bit puzzled. The apparently mis-badged "12/0" is one of the cleanest big game reels I have purchased, and I am likely to hold onto it in its current configuration.  I have every reason to believe the seller was as unaware of the anomaly as I was and am likely to chalk the "12/0" purchase up to Caveat emptor.  But I wonder whether anyone knows whether there's any history of this being seen in other reels, such that it could have occurred during manufacture?  It obviously could have happened as part of a repair or aftermarket modification. I have restored a number of Penn reels that I received as a composite of 2 different model reels, but normally everything in such reels is well worn. As I said, this is one of the cleanest reels I have seen.   
Many thanks,

[Maxed Out]

 On the 12/0, look to see the part number stamped on the under side of the reel seat. Your reel looks like a standard 12/0 to me, but the reel seat will tell you if its a 116A or a 116. If the headplate says 12/0, but it is actually a 10/0, it may have had a broken headplate at some point, and someone replaced it with a 12/0 headplate, cause 10/0 replacement headplate is pretty much unobtainium

[sandbar]

Beautiful reels!

I hope to find some larger vintage Senators in great condition some day.
I did not know that the only diff between 10/0 and 12/0 was the spool width.
Thanks for the look.
-Steve

[thorhammer]

Love a 10/0. Sweet pair, whatever the history.

[Maxed Out]

Beautiful reels!

I hope to find some larger vintage Senators in great condition some day.
I did not know that the only diff between 10/0 and 12/0 was the spool width.
Thanks for the look.
-Steve

Only difference between a 2/0 senator and 3/0 senator is width of the spool, seat, and frame posts.

 Same for 10/0 & 12/0 senators

Same for 14/0 & 16/0 senators

[sandbar]

Beautiful reels!

I hope to find some larger vintage Senators in great condition some day.
I did not know that the only diff between 10/0 and 12/0 was the spool width.
Thanks for the look.
-Steve

Only difference between a 2/0 senator and 3/0 senator is width of the spool.

 Same for 10/0 & 12/0 senators

Same for 14/0 & 16/0 senators

Good information.
I have 1/0,2/0,4/0,6/0 and 9/0.
I was thinking about looking for a 3/0, but no longer. I prefer the more narrow width reels.
Thinking a 10/0 and 14/0 will make me happy.
The search continues.
-Steve