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HP Forum Archive 08

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Thermal printer small "bracket" use???
Message #1 Posted by Michel on 21 Mar 2002, 7:59 p.m.

I'm a little bit curious about my HP-82143A thermal printer for the HP-41. I recently observe a small metal bracket on the rear left side of the printer. This bracket is usually "inside" the plastic case and it can be "flip" out of the case. There is a kind of eleptic hole in the bracket. WHAT is the purpose of that "option". Thanks for feeding my curiosity!

      
Re: Thermal printer small "bracket" use???
Message #2 Posted by Ellis Easley on 21 Mar 2002, 9:39 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Michel

That's for attaching a security cable.

            
Re: Thermal printer small "bracket" use???
Message #3 Posted by Michel on 22 Mar 2002, 11:19 a.m.,
in response to message #2 by Ellis Easley

Shame on me... I forgot that there was a time that those printer are very expensive... Thank you!

                  
Re: Thermal printer small "bracket" use???
Message #4 Posted by John K. (US) on 22 Mar 2002, 10:05 p.m.,
in response to message #3 by Michel

Still are, if the prices on eBay are anything to go by...

Ducks under an asbestos blanket...

                        
Re: Thermal printer small "bracket" use???
Message #5 Posted by David Smith on 23 Mar 2002, 5:52 p.m.,
in response to message #4 by John K. (US)

I have purchased several of the 82143A printers on Ebay for under $25... some under $5. Most were listed as in unknown or broken condition, all wound up working... some after a little repair.

Most common problems are: 1) Dirty mechanisms (needs cleaning and oiling). Four screws are under the rubber feet. One in a hole near the center of the calulator. The printer mechanism is held in by three screws. If you overtighten the one by the motor, the head will lock up. The printer screw bosses are often times cracked. Same for the screw boss for the case corner screw by the security cable mount.

2) Bad drive belt (head wont move and printer locks up). A 2.3-2.4 inch circumference belt around 0.048 thick. Most o-rings are too fat. Projector Recorder Belt Company SCX2.4 works well.

3) Bad (or missing) battery or charger. These are almost always available on Ebay. Old battery packs can be rebuilt for under $25. Printer will not work on AC alone. It needs a somewhat good battery.

4) Missing paper tear bar. Still works without it but it is annoying. You can fake one out of some thin clear plastic.

5) Bad dot(s) in the print head... you are out of luck.

                  
Re: Thermal printer small "bracket" use???
Message #6 Posted by Edwin H. Heusinkveld on 23 Mar 2002, 9:16 a.m.,
in response to message #3 by Michel

You wrote: ""... there was a time that those printer are very expensive... ""

What did this printer cost originally ??

Edwin

                        
Re: Thermal printer small "bracket" use???
Message #7 Posted by Ellis Easley on 23 Mar 2002, 10:27 a.m.,
in response to message #6 by Edwin H. Heusinkveld

This is one of the few things I have a box for and it has a series of price tags from a department store: $385.00, $299.99, $174.99 which I guess must be what my friend paid, who later sold me most of his 41C equipment (he kept only the calculator, as I recall - I know I didn't buy it).

                              
Re: Thermal printer small "bracket" use???
Message #8 Posted by Edwin Morales on 23 Mar 2002, 7:22 p.m.,
in response to message #7 by Ellis Easley

I prepared thermal paper for hp822040 for hp 19c, cutting. It is OK.

                                    
Re: Thermal printer small "bracket" use???
Message #9 Posted by Chan Tran on 23 Mar 2002, 8:46 p.m.,
in response to message #8 by Edwin Morales

I paid $350 for my printer in 1980. It was quite a lot of money for me back then.


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