IBM 1443
| Company type | Line printer |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | October 11, 1962 |
| Defunct | 1971 |
| Products | Line printers (Models 1, 2, N1) |
The IBM 1443 Printer, also referred to as the 1443 Flying Type Bar Printer, is a line printer from the punched card period that is no longer in production. This printer was offered in three variants: Models 1, 2, and N1. Both Models 2 and N1 were capable of printing up to 240 lines per minute (LPM) while supporting a comprehensive character set.
Initially launched on October 11, 1962, for use with the IBM 1440 system, the IBM 1443 remained in service until its discontinuation in 1971. In 1963, it was also introduced for compatibility with the IBM 1620 system. Furthermore, this printer was compatible with the IBM 1710, IBM 1800, and IBM System/360 systems.
Years later, IBM repurposed the model number 1443 for an unrelated product.
1443 printing capabilities
As a component of the IBM 1440 system, the IBM 1443 Printer provided alphanumeric uppercase output at a rate of 150 lines per minute (LPM) on Model 1, achieving speeds up to 430 LPM when using a reduced character set. Models 2 and N1 offered enhanced performance with maximum speeds of 240 and 600 LPM respectively.
The printer utilized interchangeable typebars that accommodated character sets consisting of 13, 39, 52, or 63 characters, which influenced printing velocity.
| Character set size | Model 1 | Model 2 | Model N1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 430 | 600 | 600 |
| 39 | 190 | 300 | 300 |
| 52 | 150 | 240 | 240 |
| 63 | 120 | - | 200 |
Equipped with either 120 or an optional total of 144 print hammers and magnets—one assigned to each column—this design resembled that of the IBM 1132 printer. The output was formatted at a density of ten characters per inch, with selectable vertical spacing options of six or eight lines per inch and choices for single, double, or triple line spacing.
The printer handled fan-folded continuous paper featuring perforated edges for tractor feeding. A carriage control tape dictated both form length and the initial print line position, allowing for flexibility in paper dimensions and facilitating accurate alignment when using pre-printed forms.
Successor technology
Subsequent printers replaced type bars with type wheels or drums. Notable examples include:
- IBM 407 (1949) – employed type wheels; adapted as input/output devices on the IBM 650
- IBM 716 (1952) – utilized with the IBM 701 and other models in the IBM 700/7000 series
- IBM 1132 (1965) – an economical printer designed for the IBM 1130 system
The IBM 1132 represented the final use of technology derived from the IBM 407. In turn, it was succeeded in 1959 by the IBM 1403 chain printer—renowned for exceeding speeds of over 1100 LPM—which was offered alongside the IBM 1132 on the IBM 1130 platform.
