Questions tagged [printer]
For questions concerning use, maintenance, restoration or emulation of printers used along with retrocomputers.
39
questions
1
vote
0
answers
239
views
Late 80s/early 90s matrix printer with a solid, curved front cover
I am trying to remember the exact year but I am drawing a blank. We had this matrix printer sometime between 1989 and 1994 in Hungary. What I distinctly remember is the front cover: it was solid, not ...
- 931
11
votes
2
answers
496
views
1984 accounting software running in VirtualBox fails to print property to an LPT passthrough, but other software seems fine
My family still runs their business with an accounting package from 1984. The computer running it is old enough to drink. I’m trying to move it to a virtual machine. I’ve purchased a System 76 ...
- 4,742
8
votes
1
answer
503
views
What did a "blue-and-gray sheet of IBM printout paper" actually look like, circa 1994?
Scientific American's December 1, 2023 The Most Shocking Discovery in Astrophysics Is 25 Years Old outlines the "origin story" for the concept of dark energy, a term used to refer to an ...
- 223k
9
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Were printed manuals for HP PCL or GL ever published?
If one wants to learn about PostScript, it's possible to find copies of the "Red", "Green" and "Blue" books, which were published by Adobe.
Were similar manuals ever ...
- 223k
8
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How were printouts done on Commodore PETs
In the old PC mags, there were often printouts of code from Commodore PETs. How were these done? Even though the PET had a GPIB interface, it didn't have a print command.
The method that we used in ...
- 4,356
24
votes
1
answer
1k
views
ImageWriter II occasionally prints hex dumps
I have an Apple ImageWriter II that I'm controlling directly over a serial port (Node.JS + serialport, Windows 10).
Generally speaking, it works fine. However, occasionally instead of printing text / ...
- 581
56
votes
4
answers
10k
views
Why did line printers have 132 columns?
From what I read, most line printers have 132 columns. Also, the VT-220 and presumably other terminals may be switched between 80 columns (that's a usual width) and 132 columns.
As I recall, 80 ...
- 131
19
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is there a line printer sound simulator?
To improve "authenticity" of a mainframe simulator and for an additional nostalgic effect, I'd like to add sounds of a line printer to it. They should be similar enough to the original sounds for ...
- 69
3
votes
4
answers
1k
views
What page layout parameters imitate a line printer?
If I want to imitate the (scaled) look, albeit not the feel, of a typical line printer printout on fan-fold paper, using Letter-, Legal- or A4-sized paper, what settings should be used to reproduce ...
- 21.6k
4
votes
1
answer
246
views
DPI resolution of Epson MX-80 vs IBM graphics printer 5152 different in quadruple density mode?
I have been trying to figure out why the IBM graphics printer has a higher dpi in quadruple density , than the Epson MX-80 since technically the IBM graphics printer is a rebranded version of the MX-...
- 718
31
votes
7
answers
6k
views
Why didn't PostScript eliminate the need for printer drivers?
In the days of dot matrix printers connected by RS-232 or the IBM/Centronics parallel port, each with its own quirky set of commands, it's obvious why printer drivers were a necessary and important ...
- 36.2k
22
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Did home computers have mechanical interfaces to typewriters?
In the April 1985 issue of Ahoy!, a reader asks whether it is possible to hook a conventional typewriter up to his Commodore 64. Surprisingly to me, columnist David Barron answers that such ...
- 567
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What kind of printer is shown in the opening title sequence for the movie Desk Set?
The movie Desk Set opens (see here for a clip) with a close-up of a computer printer which is pre-loaded with paper containing the film's opening credits. While the printer doesn't appear to actually ...
- 223k
5
votes
4
answers
677
views
Which home computer first included a printer and modem port as standard?
As home computers rapidly gained in popularity in the early 1980s, third-party peripheral manufacturers also began selling peripherals. For those users wanting to do "serious work", the ...
- 4,150
21
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Compatibility of printers with HP54645D oscilloscope?
I am not entirely sure if this is the right place to ask, but I figured if someone knows y'all here would.
I have an HP54645D oscilloscope, and it can print the screen on a printer that's connected ...
- 2,479
11
votes
2
answers
614
views
Where to find thermal paper for Aquarius or Commodore printer?
The thermal printer that was sold for use with the Mattel Aquarius or VIC-20 / Commodore 64 is an Alphacom VP42.
This uses thermal paper, 4⅜″ wide. Original paper for these printers is very hard to ...
- 23.1k
1
vote
1
answer
262
views
DPI of modern dot matrix impact printer vs DPI of old inkjet printer from 1991 [closed]
I have an old inkjet printer from 1991 that still 100% works (Kodak Diconix 180si), HP still even makes the ink cartridge for it. The Kodak Diconix 180si is basically a portable version of the HP ...
- 123k
5
votes
1
answer
482
views
What is the model of fast CAD printer used in Pentagon Wars?
Panning shots of a seemingly fast (CAD?) printer are shown in Pentagon Wars, for example in this clip at timecode 8:34: https://youtu.be/aXQ2lO3ieBA?t=514
What is it, and how does it work?
- 23.1k
2
votes
0
answers
219
views
Early multifunction laser printer with a fixed scanning head?
I was working for a Hungarian magazine in the early 90s which had the most curious device: a laser printer which had a pass-through scanner on top, i.e. you laid down a page and it dragged it under a ...
- 23.1k
9
votes
5
answers
2k
views
DOS serial printer formats
Assume a DOS machine with a serial cable, and a selection of one of Epson FX-80, HP LaserJet, IBM Proprinter. At the other end of the serial cable is a modern machine, e.g. running Linux. On the DOS ...
- 2,082
43
votes
11
answers
9k
views
How did early laser printers get by with so little memory?
The first HP Laserjet only had 128K of memory. To print an area of 7.5 by 10 inches at 300 DPI requires 844K if it's kept as a single bitmapped image. Obviously they were doing something clever to ...
13
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Connecting Panasonic "Penwriter" RK-P400C to modern PC using USB to serial cable
I have a Panasonic "Penwriter" model RK-P400C electronic typewriter/plotter from circa 1985 I'd like to be able to connect to a modern PC. And hopefully even use to draw graphics! Bought in almost new ...
- 1
21
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Typical dpi of dot matrix printers available in the 1980s
I have several printouts from what is presumably a dot-matrix printer, dated 1987. When zoomed in on these, you see the usual stair-step patterns on diagonal lines. However, it's difficult to ...
- 1
29
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Why did many 9-pin printers use only 8 pins for graphics?
In the answer to another question about printers, the following claim is made about 9-pin printers:
The Epson MX-80, upon which many other printers were based, had nine round pins which were ...
- 223k
2
votes
2
answers
302
views
SAPCOL Japanese digital typesetting machines
In a comment to this question, Japanese SAPCOL digital typesetting machines are mentioned, which apparently used a PDP-8, and contained fonts for lots of Kanji.
What were those SAPCOL machines? What ...
- 21.6k
1
vote
4
answers
826
views
Color dot matrix printers in 1980s & 1990s
What color dot matrix printers exist during 1980s & 1990s (I already know Apple ImageWriter 2)? How their quality and speed compare with ImageWriter 2.
- 1,025
1
vote
1
answer
204
views
Casio CW16 Typewriter [closed]
I am in need to refill my typewriter with more ink (this model uses ink ribbons), but in the place where I live they don't sell those ink ribbons anymore. I am considering to buy some cheap nylon ...
- 407
17
votes
4
answers
3k
views
How did dot matrix printers do Landscape?
In the 1980's, few people could afford laser printers and other page printers (e.g. inkjets) were not yet affordable. Most had inexpensive dot matrix printers with tractor feeds, such as my own Star ...
- 23.1k
9
votes
1
answer
791
views
When did tabs start defaulting to 8 columns?
The ASCII horizontal tab character defaults to 8 columns, which is unfortunate because it's too wide for indenting block structured languages (at least to most people's taste, acknowledging Linus ...
- 35.6k
7
votes
2
answers
901
views
How to print from a IIgs to a modern printer?
How can I get a IIgs to print to a modern printer? The IIgs is running Appleworks GS under System 6.0.3 with 2 MB of RAM and a hard disk. Ethernet is an option as I have a LocalTalk to Ethernet ...
- 3,649
1
vote
3
answers
270
views
Were there ever any thermal printers that simply "muscled" plain paper? [closed]
Theoretically, one could probably build a thermal printer (maybe with a laser) that simply burns the paper black where you want it black. Conceivably without embrittling the paper too deeply or ...
- 21.6k
6
votes
0
answers
139
views
Restoring a self-inking printer cartridge
I've seen people ask about restoring printer or typewriter ribbons, but my situation's a little different. I have a self-inking ribbon for a DECwriter Correspondent. It's easy to open up the casing, ...
- 61
8
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Serial Receipt Printer Garbage
I connected a vintage serial matrix receipt printer (Datamega DPN-233) via FTDI to my MacBook's USB.
It performs its own self-test without problems, prints an example and the RS 232 configuration (...
- 407
2
votes
1
answer
358
views
Refactoring Old Printer Driver for Current Linux Kernel [closed]
I have an old Lexmark 1100 printer (parallel port LPT1) that is currently working fine on Windows 98. I've tried to make it work on several current distros of Linux but, so far, none worked. Basically,...
- 125
5
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Why were teletype printers not used for DOS computers?
Prior to the introduction of DOS in 1981 teletype printers were probably the most common hardcopy printer being used - usually in govt, educational or research facilities. When DOS arrived, teletype ...
- 223k
3
votes
3
answers
805
views
Daisy wheel graphics using the period?
Although it would have absolutely beaten the hardware to death, did anyone ever try to write a graphics driver for daisy wheel printers that would use the period symbol to painstakingly construct a ...
14
votes
9
answers
4k
views
What was the typical thickness of fanfold printer paper?
Fanfold paper was commonly used for computer printouts from the 1950s to the 1980s. What was the typical thickness of such paper?
The answer must be a measure of thickness, not weight. I am well ...
26
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Where did DOS store graphics fonts?
I remember using a wysiwyg print program called Fontasy for CGI graphics in DOS because of a lack of standardized graphics fonts. Companies were selling "font packs" for other type fonts. Prior to Win ...
- 123k
10
votes
4
answers
12k
views
How to renew and re-ink old printer ribbons?
What is the proper way to restore and re-ink old typewriter, calculator, dot matrix printer, and mainframe lineprinter ribbons?
Usually fabric ribbons or open-cell foam sponge rollers were used to ...
- 2,170