Penn International over the years

[TangoDelta1981]

Can someone give me a summary or direct me to the right place to get an overview of how the Penn International lever drag line has changed/ evolved over the years?

Are there "good" years and "bad" years to watch out for?

And are there significant improvements in the new versions over ones that are say 30 years old - I mean in terms of the mechanisms/ technology?

Or - for example - is a well maintained 30 year old Penn International essentially the same as a new one?

I don't know why but I was of the impression they had a "low" point in their history but are back on track now?

[Alan M]

Penn Internationals were single speed tournament reels, numbering was based on the line class, holding about 600-800 yards of mono.  A 30T fished 30# line, the drags were based on fishing 30#.  They were the T series.

There were no bad years, just modification based on customer needs and competition introducing what the customer wanted.  There were machinists in Southern Cal that modify reels, higher drags, 2-speed.

Current version is the 6, Roman Number VI.  Developed for San Diego live bait fishing.  The S is 2-speed, high low.  The number , 16 for example, represents the size of the reel, with braided line and the current drags, the uses are almost unlimited.

The low point may be that other manufacturers responded to customer needs faster.  Current Okuma may be the current better reel than the VISX.

Is a well maintained, 30 year old reel same as new. No.  That would probably be a 2, II.  If a Penn II has been to a custom reel machine shop, at a cost of $300, plus retail, it would still be obsolete to a current reel.

All of this depends on your application.  If you are fishing from a chair old reels are fine, if you are fishing standup live bait, buy new.

[Gfish]

Good info. Alan. One question about the International series; the originals(or a series version 1 ?)are just the number, such as a "12", then there's a second series-the International II. Is there a third series(or 3? Or III), and a fourth series(or IV-?)?
I know there is a "V" and "VI"—-a fifth and sixth series.

On the Mystic Penn parts site, the oldest International I saw was first made in 1967.

[1badf350]

The original internationals were post/stand style frames
International II was the second gen and they had solid frames which continued in the following generations
International V was third gen.
International VI is 4th and current gen

[TangoDelta1981]

The original internationals were post/stand style frames
International II was the second gen and they had solid frames which continued in the following generations
International V was third gen.
International VI is 4th and current gen

Have the way the drags work changed over the years?

I heard that there is a "push" drag system and a "pull" one on more modern reels.

Does this apply with the Penn Internationals or has that not changed?

[Gfish]

Ok, Thanks Chris. The "more info." section on the Mystic Penn parts site just prints out the same limited information that is listed in the catalogs.

I ain't seen anything on that, T.D.1981.

[JasonGotaProblem]

All lever drags either push the spool against a drag disk or pull the spool into the drag disk (or pull the drag disk into the spool). That's what is meant. It's the direction the cam moves the spool in. Unless I'm mistaken most modern lever drags with dual drags pull, but I'm not expert. My everol is a "pusher" but I can't speak for all everols. I'm not sure that either is better or worse. Just different designs.

[1badf350]

I can't answer for the drags. Sorry

[UKChris1]

I can't be certain but, looking at the schematics, I think they all 'push' the spool to the left to bring the drag into operation rather than'pull' the drag from the let to the right. Certainly, that is how the original Internationals and the International II work (I have them).

[UKChris1]

Just wondering what happened to the III? We go from Int.II to Int.V so not never no III?

[Gfish]

Looking at the schematic for a 12, it is a push type drag. Doesn't look like a good system; it looks like the cam has parts that push on the outside race of the pinion bearing and bellville washers that maybe push on the inner race.

The V and VI look like pull type drag cams. The X on the 4th gen.(VISX)stands for extreme drag system. What's that mean relative to the non-X reels?

[1badf350]

Gfish, I believe the X models also have open top frames