Apple Scribe Printer

[ortencia]

I just acquired this Apple Scribe printer from FleaBay, good price, nice condition. The two ribbons I had broke within minutes, common from what I've read due to their age. I understand the printer will print without a cartridge on thermal paper. I don't find this to be true. After doing the self-test, the print head feels cold to touch. Shouldn't this be heating up?

 

[ortencia]

SOLVED: it occurred to me to try a roll of thermal fax paper. That worked! I do not know why the first thermal paper (tractor feed) did not work. Prints beautifully.

 

[sstaylor]

I'm glad to hear that; I picked up a Scribe from somewhere sometime (or perhaps it was just a feral one that was attracted by the rest of my junk) I picked up some thermal fax paper for it but haven't tried it yet. I'll have to give it a go.

 

[ortencia]

I've got mine connected to my Iicx running A/UX 3. After tons of reading man pages for 'printcap' and 'termio' I got it working as a line printer. Had to change dip switches 7 (for lower baud 1200) and 8 (for XON/XOFF) because hardware flow control would not work. Here's the printcap entry if anyone is interested:

sc|Apple Scribe Printer:\ :lp=/dev/printer:br#1200:os#0014401:cs#0004060:is#0012000:\ tr=\f:sd=/usr/spool/lpd/Scribe