Okimate 10 Printer Interface questions

[save2600]

Greets! Just received one of these printers in excellent shape, but haven't tested it out yet. It came with a few new printing cassettes though, so am thinking this puppy should work. Only came with a C64 serial port adapter... so I'd be looking for a parallel port interface if anyone happens to have one. I'd specifically like to use this with an Amiga 1000 or my A2500.

Also, is there anything else that requires maintenance or other issues I should be worried about?  Ie: print heads, etc.

[Amiduffer]

Heh! Haven't heard about the Oki10 in a long time. Came with my old used Amiga1000. Must be a dwindling supply of cartridges sitting around somewhere! You see dusty boxes of them occasionally in surplus stores and computer stores that never throw stuff out. Its been so long since I used it, that there weren't any issues beyond normal printer problems.

[save2600]

Yeah, I always wanted one of these for my A1000. Seems it came highly recommended for the machine with the colors and graphics of the A1000. Good inexpensive companion anyway.

So, I e-mailed the big Okidata Pro's people on ePay asking them questions. Shouldn't be surprised, but here's what the gal that wrote had to say:

"I'm not familia with an "Okimate 10" printer.  Is that the correct model?"...   :lol:

So, being the nice guy that I am (cough), gave her a nice and short history of their printers, along with a pic of the machine. lol  Jeez... so much for the Pro aspect.  lol  Can't wait to receive their second response. Anyone wanna bet they either don't respond or come back with a generic response along the lines of: "that model is long discontinued and therefore would not carry parts for it".   lol

[redrumloa]

I have some new ribbons here too, but they are dried out from age. I have an Okimate 20 that acts funny, I need to get around to trying to fix it. Only C= interface here, never met the Amiga interface yet. Sorry...

The crappy thing about these printers is the print heads were notorious for going out. Back when I originally had one in the 80's the print head went out and I stayed on hold with Okidata for >2 hours getting a warranty replacement.

[save2600]

I have some new ribbons here too, but they are dried out from age.

Really, they're dried out? I had to open one up to re-spool her and noticed these are not regular dot-matrix type ribbons that are wet or moist. They look more like an audio cassette tape to be honest, that's why I was thinking they'd still be good. Well, the color one anyway.

2 hours for warranty service huh? Sounds like today's customer service standards. lol  Only printer I ever owned back in the 80's was a Gorilla-Banana. Damn thing was "cheap" as far as printers went back then, but never ever had a problem with it.

[redrumloa]

 Only printer I ever owned back in the 80's was a Gorilla-Banana. Damn thing was "cheap" as far as printers went back then, but never ever had a problem with it.

Gorilla-Banana? I remember that name :lol:

Don't feel bad, my first printer was an Commodore MPS-801. That was a crappy-crap printer back when 9pin printers ruled the day.

[Amiduffer]

I have some new ribbons here too, but they are dried out from age. I have an Okimate 20 that acts funny, I need to get around to trying to fix it. Only C= interface here, never met the Amiga interface yet. Sorry...

The crappy thing about these printers is the print heads were notorious for going out. Back when I originally had one in the 80's the print head went out and I stayed on hold with Okidata for >2 hours getting a warranty replacement.

I used mine through broadcasting school with my A500 and A2000 until I upgraded to a Canon BJ200 and it worked without problems. Guess I lucked out.

[motrucker]

Aren't these things thermal printers? Or was that the 20 (or am I wrong on all counts) That would account for dry feeling carts.