ImageWriter - Compatible with which Macs?

[LimeiBook86]

Hey guys,

I have an original ImageWriter from 1984 (photo here). It actually still works!

I found the ribbon "ink" for it at Staples (2 packs for $15) and some old paper. The printer works fine in Windows XP using an old C. Itoh 8510 driver, using a COM1 to 25-pin Serial (looks like SCSI) cable. Anyway printing in Windows has given me some issues and I wanted to see if I can get it to work on a Mac.

I have a Mac 512k with the printer cable but, I can't get that machine to boot up right now. I have a PowerBook 540c and and this Apple Serial to 25-pin Serial cable. The PowerBook is running Mac OS 8 I believe.

I have the proper printer extension loaded and select it in Chooser, but when I go to print the machine seems to freeze up. Before it gave me an error saying "SimpleText can not print to this printer, please select a printer using Chooser" - or something like that.

Any ideas how to get this printer to actually print on a Mac?

Thanks!

Update: I just tried to print a text file using the same cable I used with the PowerBook on my Macintosh IIci - I get the same error. "The Printer is not responding. Check the "select" switch. Click OK to continue, Cancel to terminate printing." The Mac IIci is running System 7.5.3. If I click cancel I get "SimpleText is unable tp print this document. Please use the Chooser to select a printer." I'm guessing the cable I'm using is the wrong one, or possibly there is no way to use the printer on a Mac with only the printer/modem style serial ports. :?:

 

[shred]

The DIP switches should be set as follows for a Mac:

Bank1: (from 1 to 8) where 0=off, 1=on and x= don't care

0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0

Bank2:

1, 1, 0, X

This sets it for 9600 baud, DTR handshaking (it's bank 2 that's critical, bank 1 deals with character set, font styles and so on)

Your cable might be one for a modem (although the male DB-25 suggests that it's not). You could try a so called "null modem adaptor" on it (if you can still buy them). It just crosses pins 2 + 3 and sometimes the hardware handshaking lines over.

If I recall correctly, the ImageWriter II driver worked with an ImageWriter, but I'm not certain.

 

[elbaroni]

The ImageWriter driver works for both — there's no Imagewriter I and ImageWriter II driver.