Fix it or Strip It!
This Imagewriter I powers on with expected type head movement. All buttons and lights in the Control Cluster work as described in the owner’s manual... running a test pattern, generating an end of forms indicator, mechanically advancing the platen (by line feed or form feed). It seems to do everything EXCEPT advance the paper (line feed)! If you know how to make this fix, you end up with a very clean, functional printer. On the other hand, if you are looking for parts, this is a bountiful source to harvest just about anything you need to rebuild other printers. items for just a few parts found on this printer can easily add up to more than my asking price.
This 40 year old printer is being sold by the original owner. It has been in storage for the past 25 – 30 years. The unit was stored on its backside (in a padded carrying case – not included with your purchase) as shown in one of the photos. It was working when it went into storage and I’m speculating that storing it on it’s side may have caused something to shift (just a guess!).All of the adjustment levers for forms thickness and paper feed can be moved and exhibit some movement on the parts they control ... except that there doesn’t seem to be enough pressure on the paper to advance it. The pin feed mechanisms appear to work but have not been tested due to lack of form feed paper. All of this testing was done in February 2024. As shown in the video, hitting the line feed or the form feed buttons advance the platen ... but the paper barely budges when inserted.
The ribbon stored on the printer did not have enough ink to imprint easily read text; however, a test pattern was run with the barely visible characters shown in one of the photos.This is from the built in test pattern and producing it required me to manually tug the paper up at the sound of the line feed. This demonstrates that the built in test works, the print mechanism creates all characters as intended, and the mechanical line feed does work… if only the paper advanced on its own!
There is a 12 inch long, 3 /4 inch wide strip of foam, most likely intended for sound insulation, that has become loose due to the age of the glue. There was enough stickiness left to show the strip correctly placed at the top of the front inside panel in some of the photos. One of the last photos shows the strip removed and laying next to the printer. The strip will be shipped unattached; the new owner can decide if / how it is reattached. Leaving it off does not affect the functionality of the machine.
The old ribbon has been removed and the printer will ship without any ribbon.
I have listed additional Imagewriter accessories (cable and manual) on which are NOT included with this printer. If you buy any of them at the same time as the printer, I will combine them for shipping to save you shipping costs.
All photos are of the actual printer for sale; it is guaranteed 100% authentic.As you can see, it is clean, virtually no signs of wear and tear except for the loose foam sound insulating strip noted above and shown in photos; it still retains it’s original Mac beige color.Storage was in a smoke free, pet free, climate controlled area.
If you buy this item, you receive the printer and a power cord (not the original Apple cord). Nothing else is included.
To repeat .. this Imagewriter needs to be fixed if you intend to use it for printing.
Feel free to ask any questions before buying – ALL SALES ARE FINAL, no refunds.
$59 Buyer pays shipping
