Thread

Unboxing brand new ImageWriter II

Unboxing brand new ImageWriter II Peripherals 25 posts Apr 26, 2013 — Apr 29, 2013

#1 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 - 03:10

Hey Guys,

I just did some trading with Deacon Frost on here for a Brand New ImageWriter II (1990 Series - Last one made), I wanted to take some pictures of the unboxing process. There is a small video at the end showing the printers first test page since it was at the factory.

A little history, I was looking for a dot-matrix printer for printing multi-part cabonless forms, I have an older Mac to do it all but wanted a nice clean ImageWriter (not a fan of PC type printers). I missed an online eBay auction for a brand new one at the last minute (typical...), and I was kicking myself. However, I figured I would post in the wanted section on here for a brand new ImageWriter II (Yeah, right I thought... These are from 1990!), well as it turns out one of our members (Deacon Frost) had just got one and was willing to trade for it. So very exciting it was meant to be!

Please excuse the poor lighting I moved the printer to a better lighted area towards the end.

#2 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 - 03:12

More pictures

#3 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 - 03:16

Rest of the pictures

#4 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 - 03:20

Here is the video of the printer printing its very first test page since being at the factory. Prints amazing and smooth... I had two ribbons it appears both were dried up. I turned down the volume because if you remember the ImageWriters were very loud.

I am going to order a box of brand new ribbons, brand new serial cable (I already have a sealed owners manual, no idea why it didn't ship with one from the factory), I would like to find a reasonable Sequential Systems Buffer/AppleTalk Card new but only found two (way to expensive).

She will be printing countless forms in no time, and live the useful life she never got. Can't wait!

#5 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 - 03:31

awesome sir

#6 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 - 03:39

Thanks buddy! I am so exited to have found it, and a member who was willing to get rid of it. It just couldn't have worked any better... Crazy thing is I remember trowing away ImageWriter's 8-o 8-o 8-o 8-o 8-o 8-o Years ago they were useless and no one wanted them, not that people are really rushing to buy them now or anything... But, to find a good one is very hard now of days, and they are still very useful machines. :beige:

ImageWriter II Forever! (Oh, wait... I think that was something else Apple made... Meh this will work) :approve:

#7 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 - 04:10

What's the serial number on this printer? I'm more or less interested in when it was manufactured.

#8 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 - 04:20

Scott I knew I forgot to take a picture of something! Ill post pictures of serial number tomorrow when I get back to the office. I hope it has a manufacture date.

#9 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 - 05:08

How can you sleep at night after stripping the sound from that video?!

Here, the sound of a 15" Imagewriter I for those who actually like it:

#10 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 - 07:16

Well I do like the sound myself, but in the interest of not deafening folks I turned the volume down

. Once I get the replacement ribbon for my ImageWriter Ill post a nice video of it printing its first quality print! I need some color ribbons for its first color print too

#11 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 - 07:19

ImageWriter III???

Is this a typo?

c

#12 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 - 14:52

Awesome! I'm glad it went to a good home! Sorry it didn't have a manual, is anything else missing? I never really checked it or went through the box.

All this detail in the unboxing; I guess I better document unboxing the LCII and 9600 just as closely.

#13 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 - 15:03

A quick shot of wd40 (take the top off the ribbon cartridge, and allow it to soak through the fabric for a couple of hours) will let you print from the supplied ribbon. Might be a bit messy at first, but it can't hurt the printhead, and might actually do it some good.

#14 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 - 16:56

@CC_333 He means "Once I get the replacement ribbon for my ImageWriter I'll (as in "I will") post...".

#15 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 - 17:05

Now you just need to get MacPalette II from Microspot and a working four color ribbon, and full 24 bit color output can be yours!

MacPalette II also comes with a print spooling utility for the IWII, which can be nice.

#16 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 - 00:44

OK it appears that the ribbons were NOT dried but had broke with age, and were not allowing the ribbon to advance causing the issue. I got some aftermarket ones and it works good, attached you will find a picture of the inside of Apple Ribbon (I have 3 that are like that, so maybe its common).

Also attached the serial number of the printer. Didn't see a date on it anywhere.

Printer working like brand new with new Ribbon!!

#17 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 - 00:45

Here is the inside of the broken Ribbon

#18 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 - 00:47

@ Deacon Frost

Yeah it was just missing the serial cable and owners manual, I suspect that it was from a school and they took them out to use with other printers. But no worries, I am MORE then happy with this, I just wanted the Printer. This is AMAZING

Thanks Again Buddy!

#19 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 - 00:50

@ Trag where do you suppose I could get "MacPalette II"?

#20 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 - 13:38

Given the serial number, your ImageWriter II was made in the first week of 1993.

#21 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 - 17:49

Cool! Thanks for the info, how did you figure that out anyway? I know there is a decoder for the Mac but never heard of one for an ImageWriter. Pretty cool!!

#22 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 - 19:08

Here is the inside of the broken Ribbon

so basically the rubber wheel degraded?

#23 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 - 19:33

I think it's some sort of foam rubber which is saturated with ink.

I'm not absolutely certain though. Maybe someone can confirm?

c

#24 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 - 22:02

I'm not 100% sure what it is or was but its suppose to advance the ribbon and twisting the knob did nothing. Maybe genuine Apple ones were prone to this at this age?

#25 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 - 19:57

@ Trag where do you suppose I could get "MacPalette II"?

The last time I checked MicroSpot was still selling legitimate copies, but you had to call them and ask.

http://www.microspot.com/index.htm

There was a serial version and an appletalk version, so you may want to wait and see how you're going to use the printer. I don't know if Microspot still has both versions.