Editing Apple Scribe Printer

{{Infobox computer peripheral
| name         = Apple Scribe Printer
| image        = [[File:Apple Scribe.jpg|260px|frameless]]
| caption      = Apple Scribe (All About Apple museum, CC BY-SA 3.0)
| manufacturer = Apple Computer, Inc.
| type         = Thermal transfer printer
| release_date = 1984
| interface    = Serial; uses the ImageWriter interface cable
| compatible   = Apple IIc and Apple IIe
| power        = Mains, through an internal line transformer
}}
<templatestyles src="Template:StyledTable/styles.css" />
The '''Apple Scribe Printer''' is a thermal transfer printer that Apple introduced in 1984 with the [[Apple IIc]], at a low price, for the IIc and the [[Apple IIe]].<ref name="wp">Wikipedia, "List of Apple printers", section Early products, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Apple_printers (retrieved 2026-10-02). Source for: the Scribe as a thermal transfer printer introduced in 1984 alongside the Apple IIc at a relatively low price, and compatible with the Apple IIe.</ref> Its heated print head, pressed against a special ribbon, transfers ink from the ribbon onto ordinary paper. It can also print on thermal paper, with or without the ribbon, and with both the image is very sharp and black. The name Scribe was a trademark licensed to Apple by Unilogic Ltd.<ref name="tp-basics">Apple Computer, Inc., ''Apple Scribe Printer Technical Procedures'' (1984, revised to 1986), copyright page (PDF p. 1) and Section 1, Basics, pp. 1.3-1.7 (PDF pp. 4-8), hosted as [[:File:Apple Scribe Technical Procedures.pdf]]; described at [[Apple Scribe Printer Documentation]]. Source for: the Scribe trademark licensed from Unilogic Ltd.; the same interface cable as the ImageWriter; ImageWriter drivers working without some features such as boldface; AppleWorks needing a Scribe driver; Scribe drivers saving ribbon; the eight DIP switches under a cover by the serial connector; the self-test printout of the switch settings; switch 6 being electrical; the thermal transfer process; printing on thermal paper with or without a ribbon; 16-24 lb smooth paper; the print intensity settings of switches 5 and 6 for paper and transparencies; the self-test, the loopback test and the cover interlock.</ref>

The Scribe uses the same interface cable as the [[Apple ImageWriter]], and most ImageWriter drivers work with it, without some features such as boldface. Some programs, AppleWorks among them, need a Scribe driver, and Scribe drivers also use the ribbon more economically.<ref name="tp-basics" />

== Paper and print intensity ==
The Scribe works best with smooth 16-24 lb paper such as photocopier paper. Ordinary pin-feed paper is satisfactory, but coarse grades print light and unevenly, and Apple's first step with any print quality complaint is to look at the paper. DIP switches 5 and 6 set the intensity for paper and for transparencies:<ref name="tp-basics" />

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:70%;"
|+'''Intensity settings (DIP switches 5 and 6)'''<ref name="tp-basics" />
! Medium !! Density !! Switch 5 !! Switch 6
|-
| Paper || Normal || Up || Up
|-
| Paper || Low || Up || Down
|-
| Transparency || Normal || Down || Up
|-
| Transparency || Low || Down || Down
|}

The eight DIP switches are on the back of the printer near the serial connector, under a cover that prises off with a small flat-blade screwdriver. Apple's procedures refer to the Scribe User's Manual, Appendix B, for the full switch table.<ref name="tp-basics" />

== Self-test and loopback test ==
* Self-test: with paper, ribbon and top cover fitted, hold down LINE/FORM FEED while switching on. The printer prints its ROM revision, the DIP switch settings and a print sample.
* Loopback test: fit a DB-25 loopback plug (pins 2 and 3 joined) to the printer's serial port, then hold down LETTER while switching on. A pass prints "LOOPBACK TEST", the ROM revision, the switch settings and the character set; a failure prints nothing and flashes the SELECT lamp in a RAM check or loopback error pattern. The loopback test does not check the handshake lines.<ref name="tp-basics" />

The self-test prints the DIP switch settings as 1s and 0s in reverse order (switch 8 first). A 0 means the switch is up (off) and a 1 that it is down (on). Switch 6 always prints as an asterisk because it is an electrical switch, not a firmware setting.<ref name="tp-basics" />

== Construction ==
The printer is a mechanism assembly on a main logic board, in a case with a top cover and lid. Apple's parts list gives the main logic PCB as 661-75217 and the mechanism assembly without print head as 661-75218, and lists a mains power switch, AC input receptacle and fuse holder, a line noise filter and separate 115 V and 220 V line transformers.<ref name="tp-ipl">''Apple Scribe Printer Technical Procedures'', Section 6, Illustrated Parts List, pp. 6.1-6.13 (PDF pp. 58-72). Source for: the frame, base, tractor and platen, carriage, cover, power supply and logic board, and cable parts, including main logic PCB 661-75217, mechanism assembly without print head 661-75218, print head assembly 076-0090, carriage drive belt assembly 076-0095, ribbon feed cable assembly 076-0096, control panel assembly 076-0093, home position switch 970-0966, out-of-paper and out-of-ribbon sensor assemblies 970-0971 and 970-0965, a 5 W ceramic resistor assembly 970-0961, fuses 740-0400 (2 A 125 V medium time lag), 740-0401 (4 A 125 V medium time lag), 740-0101 (2 A 250 V) and 740-0100 (1 A 250 V), the 115 V and 220 V line transformers 970-0953 and 970-0954, the line noise filter 970-0901, and cables 590-0191, 590-0166 (modem eliminator), 590-0169 (Macintosh printer cable) and 590-0037 (serial interface).</ref> There are two control panel designs: the original one-piece panel, whose logic board cable is soldered to it, copper-shielded and run round the inside of the cover, and a later two-piece design with the cable mounted on the mechanism assembly.<ref name="tp-cp">''Apple Scribe Printer Technical Procedures'', Section 2, Take-Apart, p. 2.1 and Control Panel Upgrade (PDF pp. 9, 26).</ref>

The print head moves on a carriage driven by a belt from the carriage drive motor; a separate motor feeds the paper.<ref name="tp-ipl" /><ref name="tp-adj">''Apple Scribe Printer Technical Procedures'', Section 3, Adjustments, pp. 3.3-3.7 (PDF pp. 37-39). Source for: the drive belt tension measurement (175 g ±25 g at 10 mm deflection, spring gauge 077-0014); the small registration error at column 0 being normal; the print head gap of 3.5 mm ±0.5 mm and how to set it.</ref>

== Maintenance and troubleshooting ==
* [[Apple Scribe Printer General Maintenance]]: Apple's maintenance schedule, cleaning and lubrication, and the belt and print head adjustments.
* [[Apple Scribe Printer Troubleshooting Guide]]: the SELECT lamp error codes and Apple's symptom tables.

== Documentation ==
* [[Apple Scribe Printer Documentation]]

== Related pages ==
* [[Apple IIc]], [[Apple IIe]]
* [[Apple ImageWriter]]
* [[Apple Silentype]], Apple's earlier thermal printer

== References ==
<references />

{{Navbox-AppleVintageAccessories|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Apple Vintage Accessories]]