Or just call shakespeare and tell them you need a drag plate for a new AK medalist (don’t tell them its and old one, they will claim for some reason it won’t work)…they fit well and make all old medalist able to be reversed. Cost $3 here is a link for reversing a 1492:
http://itow.com/amago/b-streams/equipment/favorite_medalist2.html
Janus
A short while back someone posted a site that had pretty good prices on medalists. I checked today & saw they have 15% off for Christmas. That means a new Medalist would be about $17.45. The only catch is to get free shipping you must spend $25 bucks. Maybe buy one for you and one for ???.
Tim
While there are no guarantees on eBay; I know at least ONE person on FAOL who got a 1960’s vinatge 1494 in mint condition on eBay for about $18!
Many can be found in the $20-$30 price range; all from the 1960’s or even the 1950’s and made in the USA!
Bamboozle: In regards to your comment about buying USA made ones on E-Bay. That is where I got the 1494 that started this thread. I paid $18.11 for it and it is in excellent condition having only minor paint chips. I was on Ebay this AM and noticed a splate of US made Medalists listed. I had to bite my lip to keep from bidding. I went on an E-Bay buying spree the last couple of months and now own about 15 fly reels. I must be nuts.(lol).
Tim
Once I saw Bamboozle’s “Pimped” Medalist, I was hooked! I just had to check this out further and now I own two 1494’s purchased off E-Bay and both are “Made In USA” and both are in near mint condition! One even came with the original box and all paperwork and it looks like it has never had any line on it! I paid, with shipping/handling figured in, $27 for one and $35 for the one with original box and paperwork. Yes, I went one more step forward and talked to Bill at One Pfoot and he now has one of my 1494’s and when he returns it to me it will be completely “pimped” out and I can hardly wait until it gets here! Bill at One Pfoot is a great person to deal with and seems very customer service minded. You may ask if I needed this reel “pimped” out and the answer is no. I “wanted” one “pimped” out. I own a BBS and a Ross reel and did not need either one of the Medalist reels. I have just reached a place in my fly fishing that I think I appreciate more the older flies and equipment. I know what length rods and actions I am more comfortable with now and no longer have to have the newest rods and reels as they come out. I feel everyone will reach this point in their fly fishing and just settle down and enjoy the sport for what it was intended for.
Thanks Nick, Bamboozle, for all your help and I will post pictures of my “pimped” 1494 when I get it! 
This weekend my “unpimped” 1494 and I have a “date” to go fishing and I intend to keep that date!!