Is a Commodore printer really worth it?

[Sowden]

Hey guys. So I bought a Commodore 128 bundle because it came with a lot of original boxed games. I have a A800XL and 1040STF with all of these copied (pirated) games, but no original boxes to go with it. I haven't had a chance to dive into it yet, but I also got a printer in the bundle. I am wondering if its worth keeping it. I'm not sure how tough it is to get it working, and if it is even worth it. Anyone on here with experience knows how to get it working and what good it is to have it? I don't see a lot of uses, but I am also wondering if its going for any cash. Just being a total n00b, anyone here has any words to help me out? Thanks guys.

[landgraf]

I don't see a lot of uses

You could use it for home automation! Edited December 2, 2016 by landgraf

[carlsson]

Traditionally, matrix printers have been the lowest on the feeding scale. Even when donated for free, with original box, very few if anyone at all would be willing to adopt it even if they were standing right next to it at a fair. All other peripherals have a value, but printers don't seem to have that. One of my best retro computing sales ever was back in the 1990's when I managed to sell my MPS-801 and actually got a bit of money for it.

 

That said, I'm expecting one day people will realize a lot of those old printers have gone to recycling, and there will be panic among collectors that it is too late, and the remaining ones may start to pick up a value, just because so few remain. If you have the space, you may want to stick to it for a little.

 

From a usage point of view, the ribbon is getting harder and harder to replace despite several printers from different OEM and other manufacturers used the same parts. Elsewhere I've read about people trying to re-ink the old ribbons, and that the printer works for a short while. Perhaps there will come some good solutions to that. Otherwise I don't know if any mechanical or electrical parts break down, but I suppose they're not immune to general wear and old age.

[+save2600]

Depends on what you use your classic machines for I guess. If you like to program/debug, they're useful. Or if you're nostalgic about printing stuff from programs like The Print Shop, maybe. But for the rest of us, they're generally useless and take up more than their fair share of space on a desk.

I just donated to the Salvation Army, a couple of mint/boxed printers for the C64 actually. Looked to see what they go for online and wasn't even worth the trouble and hassle of trying (key word here) to sell. Kept a nice 9-pin Star for myself for reasons unknown as it's been sitting in its box for decades doing nothing.

[carlsson]

Are you having a beef with your local Salvation Army, and for that reason are dumping CIB printers onto them?

Edited December 2, 2016 by carlsson

[+save2600]

Are you having a beef with your local Salvation Army, and for that reason are dumping CIB printers onto them?

Haha, no! Just pairing down these days. I should go back and see what they've priced them at though. Just for the hell of it.

[cjameslv]

I don't use them either but I did get a c64 nib one and kept it just cause. Maybe someday I'll try it out.

[Keatah]

I have a couple of Epson MX-80 F/T dot-matrix (with GrafTrax III in ROM) printers. And I used to use one with my Apple II quite extensively bitd. I really liked the level of integration and wonderfully complete 100+ page manual. A fair amount of software made use of the printer back then. And the Grappler+ interface card provided even more little trinkets and ROM-based enhancements turning it into a top-of-the-line printing environment. Had (still have) a 64K external buffer to go with it.

 

I ran a local printing business with it. Making those 3 meter long PrintShop banners and typing and printing book reports. Greeting cards too. Flyers.. Made a scrapbook of hi-res pictures.. Program listings.. Mathematical plots..

 

To me, the printer was an integral part of my computing environment. My collection would not be complete without it. I also have printers for my Ti-59, and TRS-80 Pocket Computers.

 

So I would safely assume that if you do anything more than playing games, whatever your platform of choice is, that a printer is part and parcel of the retrocomputing experience. Especially those noisy dot matrix contraptions!

[Keatah]

From a usage point of view, the ribbon is getting harder and harder to replace despite several printers from different OEM and other manufacturers used the same parts. Elsewhere I've read about people trying to re-ink the old ribbons, and that the printer works for a short while. Perhaps there will come some good solutions to that. Otherwise I don't know if any mechanical or electrical parts break down, but I suppose they're not immune to general wear and old age.

 

Most people try using inkjet ink to do it. That doesn't work well. I found the ink from a basic/classic Bic pen to be the best. It's thicker and doesn't dry nearly as quickly. Been doing it for years. Blow it out the tube and dilute it with WD-40 to allow it to thin out. Then distribute it evenly across the ink cartridge. And finishing up with a little bit more WD-40 to even it all out.

 

I would do this to a ribbon cartridge (Epson MX-80) 5 times, then flip the ribbon, and 5 more times. Then it finally wore out from pintle pounding. That's 10 cartridges worth of ink!! Best of times!!

[motrucker]

Hey guys. So I bought a Commodore 128 bundle because it came with a lot of original boxed games. I have a A800XL and 1040STF with all of these copied (pirated) games, but no original boxes to go with it. I haven't had a chance to dive into it yet, but I also got a printer in the bundle. I am wondering if its worth keeping it. I'm not sure how tough it is to get it working, and if it is even worth it. Anyone on here with experience knows how to get it working and what good it is to have it? I don't see a lot of uses, but I am also wondering if its going for any cash. Just being a total n00b, anyone here has any words to help me out? Thanks guys.

This will depend on which model printer you have. The older 80x series are not worth using. Some of the newer models can be well worth using. The MPS-1000 is an Epson with NLQ mode, and pretty good graphics (just B&W though). The newer, the better, obviously. As far as selling any of these - they will not bring much money. Good luck.

[bpatte02]

I have a Vic-1525 and it's neat to have along side my Vic-20 (the New one I got to replace my old one RIP). However, it's very limited as to what it can do and the ribbon was proprietary and is almost impossible to replace, but using stamp ink can work on the ribbon to revitalize it. I enjoy it but it's not for everyone.

[David Baldwin]

can i use stamp ink with my star printer.

[Turbo-Torch]

I have a Vic-1525 and it's neat to have along side my Vic-20 (the New one I got to replace my old one RIP). However, it's very limited as to what it can do and the ribbon was proprietary and is almost impossible to replace, but using stamp ink can work on the ribbon to revitalize it. I enjoy it but it's not for everyone.

 

I think my Radio Shack DMP-100 uses the same ribbon as the 1525 and I also had good luck with stamp ink. I used the type that looks like roll-on deodorant and it only costs a few bucks from Staples.

The 100 was included with a Model III I picked up this summer. I don't normally want anything to do with printers, but this set looked unused and the print quality is surprisingly good...plus it's battleship gray so it's a cool looking keeper that's hooked up.

 

I still have a DMP-110 that I bought new and that's also a rare one to find ribbons for. That one uses the same ribbon as the MPS-801 and I think that's it. It's been ages since I even had a cartridge making the 110 a paperweight. About a month ago I picked up a bunch of free vintage computer stuff from a CL ad and I was happy to find 6 new 110 ribbons in a box.

The 110 always had terrible print quality (although many fonts) and I was disappointed after spending $300 (on sale!) of my hard earned cash on it. Not sure how RS considered it an upgrade over the 100.

I wonder if the Commodore crowd felt the 801 was crap compared to the 1525? Or maybe they were different printers that just shared the RS ribbons?

[Sowden]

Wow, I didn't even know that you could put any ink into the printers now days. I have to look in my closet (man, when I get to it) to see what I actually have in there. But hey, I think I have a 9 Pin Star in the bundle too. What exactly does that do?

[motrucker]

Looks like the MPS 1000 can be found, still. Here's one on ebay (US) :

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Commodore-MPS-1000-Printer-Epson-LX-/162276606880?hash=item25c87083a0:g:9l0AAOSwU-pXqPPR

 

Ribbons are still available too!