IBM 1443

(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.

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Although the IBM 1440 system with which the 1443 was announced October 11, 1962 was withdrawn February 8, 1971, the printer itself was made available for other IBM systems:[11][12][2][13] the 1620, 1710, 1720 and 1800.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]

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

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

• IBM 407 - introduced 1949 - type wheels[17] - adapted as an input/output unit on the IBM 650
• IBM 716 - introduced in 1952 with the IBM 701 and others in the IBM 700/7000 series
• IBM 1132[18] - introduced in 1965 with the low cost IBM 1130 computer system.

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.

• Line printer

• IBM 1440 system, including a 1443
• IBM 1443 typebars, collection of the Computer History Museum