Atari 1020 Printers

[Shephda]

There is a local thrift store that has (as of yesterday) 8 of these printers, they are mint and factory sealed. They have them listed for $29.99.

 

If anyone is interested, and they are still there I can help you out. I don't want any money for doing it, just reimbursed. Let me know because they will not last I'm sure.

[JonnyBritish]

I would take two

[russg]

There is a local thrift store that has (as of yesterday) 8 of these printers, they are mint and factory sealed. They have them listed for $29.99.

 

If anyone is interested, and they are still there I can help you out. I don't want any money for doing it, just reimbursed. Let me know because they will not last I'm sure.

One thing. I believe 1020 is a plotter, not a printer. It won't print text files, I think.

[JohnBuell]

Yes it does. It draws out every letter one at a time, but it can do text as well as graphics.

[Shephda]

I'm not an Atari computer guru (C= man my self) so I'll take your word on it.

I just saw them and about flipped out. They look as if they came off the store shelf, and figured someone who collects Atari computers might want one. I'm not into selling on e-Bay, it's too much a pain in the arse.

 

I'll stop by after work and see what's left. Given this are, probably most of them.

[jaybird3rd]

I'll take one also (I'll PM you as well). The 1020 used very small plastic drive gears that haven't aged well, so they probably won't work without replacing at least one of them. I've got a few spares, though.

[+orpheuswaking]

I'll take one also (I'll PM you as well). The 1020 used very small plastic drive gears that haven't aged well, so they probably won't work without replacing at least one of them. I've got a few spares, though.

 

I could use some spare gears....

[jaybird3rd]

I could use some spare gears...

Well, I'll have to find them first. I bought a whole box full of loose Alps plotter mechs just like the one the 1020 uses for 50 cents each. They aren't complete (the solenoid that engages the pen cage was removed), but they all have a full set of gears. When I need a replacement for the ones that go bad, I search through them to see if I can find any good ones. I've only found a few so far, so I've probably got two or three left.

 

I'd love to find a source for new replacements, but I have no idea how to check the dimensions of the old gears. Without doing that, I don't know how I'd find a suitable match.

[JonnyBritish]

There is a local thrift store that has (as of yesterday) 8 of these printers, they are mint and factory sealed. They have them listed for $29.99.

 

If anyone is interested, and they are still there I can help you out. I don't want any money for doing it, just reimbursed. Let me know because they will not last I'm sure.

 

Are these in the original boxes as well?

[russg]

Yes it does. It draws out every letter one at a time, but it can do text as well as graphics.

OK, I stand wrong (again). It uses a roll of special heat paper, only about 5 inches wide, and four

pens, black, red, blue, green. The pens dry out fairly much, but I imagine the new 1020 has the

pens in sealed container. I've had a few of them. I recall they break fairly easy, and are mostly good

for line pictures, sorta pinwheels and circles programs. I wrote a biorhythm program for it. There

are instructions how to use BASIC in the plotter manual.

EDIT: Of course it doesn't use heat paper, before somebody catches me.

BIOPLOT.zip

Edited October 15, 2010 by russg

[jaybird3rd]

OK, I stand wrong (again). It uses a roll of special heat paper, only about 5 inches wide, and four pens, black, red, blue, green. The pens dry out fairly much, but I imagine the new 1020 has the pens in sealed container. I've had a few of them. I recall they break fairly easy, and are mostly good for line pictures, sorta pinwheels and circles programs. I wrote a biorhythm program for it. There are instructions how to use BASIC in the plotter manual.

It isn't thermal (heat-sensitive) paper; it's just an ordinary roll of paper. There's about a 50% chance that the pens are dead; about half the ones I've opened have dried out, and the other half seem to work fine (although not for long, in some cases). B&C ComputerVisions sells rolls of 1020 paper, and they also offer new plotter pens that are imported from somewhere in Europe.

 

The 1020 has a built-in vector font, so it can print text in a variety of sizes as well as graphics. It was especially useful for things like diskette catalogs; you could print out a directory listing from DOS and tape it to the diskette sleeve.

 

The sample programs included with the 1020 are on cassette tape, but I converted them to diskette for my own use. See the attached image.

 

Atari1020MasterDisk.atr

[Chuck D. Head]

There is a local thrift store that has (as of yesterday) 8 of these printers, they are mint and factory sealed. They have them listed for $29.99.

 

If anyone is interested, and they are still there I can help you out. I don't want any money for doing it, just reimbursed. Let me know because they will not last I'm sure.

 

Be sure you talk to them to see if they have half price days or something like that..... Morgan

[JohnBuell]

OK, I stand wrong (again). It uses a roll of special heat paper, only about 5 inches wide, and four pens, black, red, blue, green. The pens dry out fairly much, but I imagine the new 1020 has the pens in sealed container. I've had a few of them. I recall they break fairly easy, and are mostly good for line pictures, sorta pinwheels and circles programs. I wrote a biorhythm program for it. There are instructions how to use BASIC in the plotter manual.

It isn't thermal (heat-sensitive) paper; it's just an ordinary roll of paper. There's about a 50% chance that the pens are dead; about half the ones I've opened have dried out, and the other half seem to work fine (although not for long, in some cases). B&C ComputerVisions sells rolls of 1020 paper, and they also offer new plotter pens that are imported from somewhere in Europe.

 

The 1020 has a built-in vector font, so it can print text in a variety of sizes as well as graphics. It was especially useful for things like diskette catalogs; you could print out a directory list from DOS and tape it to the diskette sleeve.

 

The sample programs included with the 1020 are on cassette tape, but I converted them to diskette for my own use. See the attached image.

 

Atari1020MasterDisk.atr

It's Germany actually. They hiked the prices and B&C isn't carrying them anymore. See my post at: http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/154287-atari-1020-printer/page__view__findpost__p__2004703

[jaybird3rd]

It's Germany actually. They hiked the prices and B&C isn't carrying them anymore. See my post at: http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/154287-atari-1020-printer/page__view__findpost__p__2004703

Ugh, that's too bad. Thanks for posting the contact info for the manufacturer, though; it's good to have it in case the existing supply of plotter pens dries up (literally and figuratively).

 

One thing I'd recommend to anyone who owns a 1020 is to take the pens out and put them back in their tube (with the caps on) when they aren't being used. That will help to keep them from drying out too early.

[NuY]

It's Germany actually. They hiked the prices and B&C isn't carrying them anymore. See my post at: http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/154287-atari-1020-printer/page__view__findpost__p__2004703

Ugh, that's too bad. Thanks for posting the contact info for the manufacturer, though; it's good to have it in case the existing supply of plotter pens dries up (literally and figuratively).

 

One thing I'd recommend to anyone who owns a 1020 is to take the pens out and put them back in their tube (with the caps on) when they aren't being used. That will help to keep them from drying out too early.

I ordered a set of these pens from the European supplier, and they work great. Took some finding, and they weren't cheap (€28 including delivery) but well worth it. The website is here and in German, but if you email them they speak fluent English.

[+wood_jl]

People selling these things just are clueless as to the actual value. Where are the consumables going to come from? How big of an audience does the Atari-8 computer have, who are interested in 1020s????

 

 

Of the entire population, what percentage lives in whatever locale this Goodwill is in? Of that small population, what percentage are still interested in Atari 8-bit computers? [note: not what percentage in the past, which would have been greater, but NOW]. Of those who still are, how many are interested in a 1020 plotter? Of those who are and get a 1020 plotter, what is the likelihood that the pens aren't dried out??? [subset of this inquiry: If/where replacement pens are available, for how long will they be available, at what quantity, and at what cost???} Of those who either received 1020 units with working pens, how many have functional gearsets????

 

Have we narrowed this down enough now to roughly approximate interest as plotted against value? These should be FREE. I'd tell the seller they should melt them down and re-form them into butt-plugs, in an attempt to increase the market appeal and actual value, and then I'd poignantly suggest to the seller (who wants actual dollars for these units) that they abruptly apply one of the resultant butt-plugs to themselves, along with a flip-off sign.

[WolfWing]

There is a local thrift store that has (as of yesterday) 8 of these printers, they are mint and factory sealed. They have them listed for $29.99.

 

If anyone is interested, and they are still there I can help you out. I don't want any money for doing it, just reimbursed. Let me know because they will not last I'm sure.

 

I would be interested, but what would you estimate shipping to be? And would you want a check or by paypal?

[russg]

It's Germany actually. They hiked the prices and B&C isn't carrying them anymore. See my post at: http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/154287-atari-1020-printer/page__view__findpost__p__2004703

Another post in that thread (8bitguy1 I think it was), mentions APE has a 1020 plotter emulation.

I checked my APE and it got to a point where it must be registered. I'm a little excited to run my

1020 programs again. I just sent in an order for registered APE for Windows. Ha Ha.

So, wouldn't it be great if we could print the output of a 1020 on a Windows printer, or a PDF

file that could be printed?

Edit again: APE does print the color graphics of the 1020, without registration.

It doesn't seem to print the text output though, I'm guessing it won't in registered

version either.

Edited October 18, 2010 by Tempest

[Shephda]

People selling these things just are clueless as to the actual value. Where are the consumables going to come from? How big of an audience does the Atari-8 computer have, who are interested in 1020s????

 

 

Of the entire population, what percentage lives in whatever locale this Goodwill is in? Of that small population, what percentage are still interested in Atari 8-bit computers? [note: not what percentage in the past, which would have been greater, but NOW]. Of those who still are, how many are interested in a 1020 plotter? Of those who are and get a 1020 plotter, what is the likelihood that the pens aren't dried out??? [subset of this inquiry: If/where replacement pens are available, for how long will they be available, at what quantity, and at what cost???} Of those who either received 1020 units with working pens, how many have functional gearsets????

 

Have we narrowed this down enough now to roughly approximate interest as plotted against value? These should be FREE. I'd tell the seller they should melt them down and re-form them into butt-plugs, in an attempt to increase the market appeal and actual value, and then I'd poignantly suggest to the seller (who wants actual dollars for these units) that they abruptly apply one of the resultant butt-plugs to themselves, along with a flip-off sign.

 

As my 14 year old daughter would say, "whatever "

[Shephda]

I was able to get 4 of these, they cost me with tax 32.08. I think 3 are spoken for. (two to Johnny British, and one to jaybird3rd)

 

These are factory sealed and NOS.

Send me your zip so I can give you the shipping cost. You can pay with PayPal as a gift.

[Shephda]

There is a local thrift store that has (as of yesterday) 8 of these printers, they are mint and factory sealed. They have them listed for $29.99.

 

If anyone is interested, and they are still there I can help you out. I don't want any money for doing it, just reimbursed. Let me know because they will not last I'm sure.

 

Are these in the original boxes as well?

Yes they are.

[Shephda]

There is a local thrift store that has (as of yesterday) 8 of these printers, they are mint and factory sealed. They have them listed for $29.99.

 

If anyone is interested, and they are still there I can help you out. I don't want any money for doing it, just reimbursed. Let me know because they will not last I'm sure.

 

Be sure you talk to them to see if they have half price days or something like that..... Morgan

 

They do, but the next one will be on Thanksgiving Day, I will not get within a mile of that place then.

[+wood_jl]

People selling these things just are clueless as to the actual value. Where are the consumables going to come from? How big of an audience does the Atari-8 computer have, who are interested in 1020s????

 

 

Of the entire population, what percentage lives in whatever locale this Goodwill is in? Of that small population, what percentage are still interested in Atari 8-bit computers? [note: not what percentage in the past, which would have been greater, but NOW]. Of those who still are, how many are interested in a 1020 plotter? Of those who are and get a 1020 plotter, what is the likelihood that the pens aren't dried out??? [subset of this inquiry: If/where replacement pens are available, for how long will they be available, at what quantity, and at what cost???} Of those who either received 1020 units with working pens, how many have functional gearsets????

 

Have we narrowed this down enough now to roughly approximate interest as plotted against value? These should be FREE. I'd tell the seller they should melt them down and re-form them into butt-plugs, in an attempt to increase the market appeal and actual value, and then I'd poignantly suggest to the seller (who wants actual dollars for these units) that they abruptly apply one of the resultant butt-plugs to themselves, along with a flip-off sign.

 

As my 14 year old daughter would say, "whatever "

 

 

I must humbly apologize for that drunken rant. I had a barbecue Friday night. After 5 beers, one of the gents (loosely applied term, here) produced a bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon, before leaving. It's quite obvious, I overindulged.

 

The insult was not intended to Shephda, whose charitable task here is quite admirable. The suggestion was for the original seller. Now having re-read the post, I see it was a thrift store, who wouldn't know anything about them. The 1020 plotter I had (quite some time back) turned out to be junk, leaving me a little miffed. Later, I learned many are.

 

Nontheless, that's one of the most tasteless things I've ever written here. Some people (ahem!) shouldn't drink, or should stay off the forums if they do. Although I'm far from the most knowledgeable people on the forum, I'd like to think I can make a small contribution to the discussions, from time to time. That definitely was NOT one of them. Sorry for being such a moron.

 

wood_jl

[Shephda]

People selling these things just are clueless as to the actual value. Where are the consumables going to come from? How big of an audience does the Atari-8 computer have, who are interested in 1020s????

 

 

Of the entire population, what percentage lives in whatever locale this Goodwill is in? Of that small population, what percentage are still interested in Atari 8-bit computers? [note: not what percentage in the past, which would have been greater, but NOW]. Of those who still are, how many are interested in a 1020 plotter? Of those who are and get a 1020 plotter, what is the likelihood that the pens aren't dried out??? [subset of this inquiry: If/where replacement pens are available, for how long will they be available, at what quantity, and at what cost???} Of those who either received 1020 units with working pens, how many have functional gearsets????

 

Have we narrowed this down enough now to roughly approximate interest as plotted against value? These should be FREE. I'd tell the seller they should melt them down and re-form them into butt-plugs, in an attempt to increase the market appeal and actual value, and then I'd poignantly suggest to the seller (who wants actual dollars for these units) that they abruptly apply one of the resultant butt-plugs to themselves, along with a flip-off sign.

 

As my 14 year old daughter would say, "whatever "

 

 

I must humbly apologize for that drunken rant. I had a barbecue Friday night. After 5 beers, one of the gents (loosely applied term, here) produced a bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon, before leaving. It's quite obvious, I overindulged.

 

The insult was not intended to Shephda, whose charitable task here is quite admirable. The suggestion was for the original seller. Now having re-read the post, I see it was a thrift store, who wouldn't know anything about them. The 1020 plotter I had (quite some time back) turned out to be junk, leaving me a little miffed. Later, I learned many are.

 

Nontheless, that's one of the most tasteless things I've ever written here. Some people (ahem!) shouldn't drink, or should stay off the forums if they do. Although I'm far from the most knowledgeable people on the forum, I'd like to think I can make a small contribution to the discussions, from time to time. That definitely was NOT one of them. Sorry for being such a moron.

 

wood_jl

 

No problem brother, and thanks for the post! I feel a lot better now.

[Shephda]

Here is a pic of the printer\plotter: