IBM 1443

The IBM 1443 Printer (sometimes referred to as the 1443 Flying Type Bar Printer[1]) is an obsolete computer line printer used in the punched card era. It was offered in two models: Model 1 and Model 2; the latter could print up to 240 lines per minute (LPM) with a full character set.[2]

For the printer used on the 1401, 1130 and 360 systems, see IBM 1403.

This 1443 was initially introduced in 1962 for use with the IBM 1440 system,[3] but also could be used on the IBM 1620[2][4] or IBM 1800 systems.[5][6]

Decades later IBM recycled the 1443 model number to refer to a different product.[7]

Technology
(Related era's printing technology): An IBM 4xx accounting machine with built-in printer (left)

Beginning in 1920, IBM developed a series of printers

  • IBM 405 - introduced in 1934 - top speed was 80 lines per minute.
  • IBM 402 - introduced after World War II - printed as many as 100 lines per minute.

These IBM printers, and others of the early punched card era, use ""type bars."Prior to the 1959 introduction of the model 1403, IBM printers utilized technology originally developed for their line of accounting machines: type bars.[8]
Type bars are vertical bars, one for each print position in a line. Each bar is one character wide with the printer's entire character set: either alphabetic characters, including numerals and symbols, or just numerals and symbols, molded into the front surface in a single column. In printing, each bar is raised up until the correct character for that print position was opposite the paper, whereupon the bar is pushed toward the paper, so that the correct numeral or letter pressed against the ribbon, striking the paper much the way type slugs leave an impression on paper in a standard typewriter. This action is relatively slow, as it takes time for each bar to be brought up into the correct position and then drop back down in preparation to print the next line.

1443 printing capabilities

The IBM 1443 Printer was introduced as part of the IBM 1440 system[9] The 1443 Model 1 prints alphanumeric, upper-case only, output at a basic rate of 150 lines per minute, and it can print up to 430 lines a minute with a restricted character set, depending upon the type bars used. The Model 2's corresponding speeds are 240 and 600 LPM.

These typebars[9] are easily interchangeable, with options for character sets containing 13, 39, 52,[10] or 63 characters.

Although the IBM 1440 system with which the 1443 was announced October 11, 1962 was withdrawn February 8, 1971, the printer itself was made available for other IBM systems:[11][12][2][13] the 1620, 1710, 1720 and 1800. It also co-existed as a choice alongside the older IBM 1403 printer.[14]

The print speeds vary according to the model and the character set.[5][15]

Lines/Minute[2]
Character set (size) Model 1 Model 2
13 430 600 (LPM)
39 190 300 (LPM)
52 150 240 (LPM)

The 1443 printer uses 120 or 144 print hammers and hammer magnets,[16] conceptually similar to the IBM 1132 printer's one-per-column print magnets.

Output is formatted at 10 characters per inch, with a choice of six or eight lines per inch,[2]:p.1 with additional options for single, double or triple-spacing.[2]:p.3

The 1443 uses fan-folded paper with perforated edges for tractor feeding. A carriage control tape specifies form length and the form line where printing was to begin so that paper of various sizes could be used. A carriage control tape simplifies use of pre-printed forms and the programming needed to allow proper alignment.[2]:p.3

Successor technology

Type bars were replaced by type wheels or a drum in later printers, most notably:

The 1132 was the last printer manufactured by IBM to use the 407's technology. In 1959 this technology was superseded with the introduction of the IBM 1403 chain printer;[19] both the 1132 and 1403 were available with the 1130.

See also

Photos

References
  1. "1443 Flying Type Bar Printer".
  2. "Systems Reference Library. IBM 1443 PRINTER for 1620/1710 Systems" (PDF).
  3. IBM Corporation. "1440 Data Processing System". IBM Archives. Retrieved Dec 21, 2017.
  4. "This publication describes the IBM 1443 Printer as an on-line output unit for the 1620 Data Processing Systems, Models 1 and. 2, and for the 1710 Control System. File No. 1620/1710-03. Form A26-5730-2"
  5. Yong Zhou (2014). British Commercial Computer Digest: Pergamon Computer Data Series. ISBN 1483148580.
  6. "IBM 1443 ... Used with the IBM 1800 Computers."
  7. "Printer Ribbon IBM 1443 Texas Instruments Omni 800 RP-594".
  8. The IBM 402 Series of Accounting Machines, http://www.columbia.edu/cu/computinghistory/402.html
  9. "1440 Data Processing System".
  10. "A-Z upper case, 10 digits 0-9, and 16 special characters: "Executive Guide to the IBM 1440 Data Processing System" (PDF). 1962.
  11. "1963 : On May 6, the IBM 1443 printer, for use with the IBM 1620 data processing system, makes its debut." "DPD chronology".
  12. The May 6, 1963 intro was for using the 1443 on either model IBM 1620, and also for the IBM 1710.
  13. This publication describes the IBM 1443 Printer as an on-line output unit for the 1620 Data Processing Systems, :Models 1 and. 2, and for the 1710 Control System. File No. 1620/1710-03. Form A26-5730-2
  14. "IBM 1440 Katakana System, 1964. Soon after the IBM 1401 System, the IBM 1440 was announced, adding the IBM 1443 Bar Printer option in addition, or instead of the IBM 1403 Chain Printer..." Kurt Hensch (2004). IBM History of Far Eastern Languages in Computing: National Language. ISBN 3937267034.
  15. "General Characteristics: LINE PRINTER IBM 1443, Optional Features Include: Models 1 and 2 have a rated speed of 150 lines/minute and 240 LPM respectively (with a 52 character set)."
  16. depending on whether the printer has the standard 120 columns or the optional 144-columns
  17. "IBM 407 accounting machine".
  18. "IBM 1130 Functional Characteristics" (PDF).
  19. "How the IBM 1403 printer hammered out 1100 lines per minute".
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