IBM 1132
| Company type | Printer hardware |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Products | Line printer |
The IBM 1132 line printer served as the default printing device for the IBM 1130 computing system, which debuted in 1965. It was capable of producing lines consisting of 120 characters at a rate of 80 lines per minute, handling digits, uppercase alphabetic characters, and a limited set of special symbols.
Its design was based on a streamlined version of the IBM 407 printing mechanism—IBM's leading accounting machine from the 1950s. The 1132 incorporated 120 power transistors, each connected to a print magnet responsible for one column. Activation of the magnet engaged a cam on a rotating clutch shaft, driving a print wheel against the ribbon and paper to form characters.
While the 120 print wheels rotated, the system generated interrupts for every one of the 48 possible characters as they reached print position. The printer driver software quickly transmitted a 120-bit vector to energize the transistors and produce characters. Although this process imposed a notable load on the CPU, it allowed for an affordable printing solution at that time.
Transistor failures sometimes resulted in blank columns on printed lines; however, experienced operators could exchange circuit cards to shift faults toward the right end of the line, enabling continued operation until maintenance was performed.
The 1132 came in two variants:
- Model 1: Capable of printing up to 80 alphanumeric or 110 numeric lines per minute; compatible with IBM 1131 CPU Models 1, 2, 3, and 5.
- Model 2: Prints up to 40 alphanumeric or 55 numeric lines per minute; designed exclusively for IBM 1131 CPU Model 4.
Both versions included these features:
- A standard typewheel with 48 characters covering A–Z, digits 0–9, and symbols
. , + - * / = ( ) ' $ &. - A print line consisting of 120 positions spaced at a density of 10 characters per inch.
- Operator-adjustable vertical spacing options of either 6 or 8 lines per inch.
- Program-controlled form skipping enabled by an automatic carriage control tape.
- Control managed through stored-program logic via an automatic interrupt mechanism.
- Direct interface to the IBM 1131 CPU using the 1132 Printer Attachment and Expansion Adapter.