If you can find it, HP had a legacy printer software download for old Macintosh for the LaserJet 4, 5 and 6 series printers, but they must have PostScript SIMM or DIMM installed. IIRC the L models are not supported by it, probably no PostScript option for them. Those printers will need an interface option board with Ethernet and/or a LocalTalk/Mac serial port. LaserJet 4 series uses the MIO type expansion. Laserjet 5, 5M, 5N and 5S series also use MIO. Do not be fooled by Token Ring MIO cards, they are useless (unless for some reason you are stuck maintaining an ancient Token Ring system) unless you get one with a Mac port because you need to connect to a Mac. The 'holy grail' of MIO cards are the ones with Mac, 10 Base-T and 10 Base-2 ports.
Looks like LaserJet 6 only came in L and P models, neither of which had expansion slots. printerworks.com is where you can find all the parts and upgrades, including some parts that can be used to repair LaserWriters due to their common "engines" shared with various HP, Canon and others. There was a Macintosh kit for the LaserJet II but from what I read on it some years ago it was slow and didn't work too well. HP had absolutely nothing for Mac for the LaserJet III series. There were 3rd party solutions such as PostScript cartridges and interface adapters. Another thing to look for, which will get you compatibility with many more (but old) printers is PowerPrint. It's a Mac serial port to parallel port adapter cable and a software driver and RIP (Raster Image Processor) that takes print output and converts it to monochrome bitmaps to send to the printer. Caveat, it can be VERY SLOW, minutes per page on most 68k Macs, even on a IIci with 128 meg RAM and a 66Mhx PPC 601 upgrade. I connected up a LaserJet IIID to just such a "Power IIci" and after a couple pages printed using Power Print I gave up on using that for printing from it. There were several revisions to both the cable and software, so you need to match them. When the company was still in business they'd give you free upgrades to the latest software version supported by whichever cable revision you had. They also had a network version of PowerPrint. That included a standalone print server to connect the printer to. From what I collected about it, the software looked for a specific name of the print server. I wondered if any server would work if it's name was changed to match the one provided by PowerPrint. I still have a standalone HP JetDirect for parallel printers. Or you could install Print to PDF then copy the PDF's to a newer computer to print out. http://www.jwwalker.com/pages/pdf.html From: bigclaim via Vintage Macs <vintage-macs@googlegroups.com> To: vintage-macs@googlegroups.com Sent: Friday, July 29, 2016 10:17 PM Subject: Re: Finding old Apple Laserwriter Just bare with me and let's see how to get them to CA - I need everyone I can find, working or not I need everyone of them - I don't know ANYONE that uses them - I work in system 7 and 8 on my old Macs and they can only print to the laserwriters - it's been hell keeping them going - I have 7 and they are all broken in one way or another Work with me and help me (I am just an assistant teacher and don't make a lot) and give me a program to pay you for them - I have references. My #7 printer went bad to day - - side makes 2 blinking red lights and won't work - most of the motherboards have gone bad. OK - so in what city do you live? Than ks Michael Smith -----Original Message----- From: 'Glen' via Vintage Macs <vintage-macs@googlegroups.com> To: vintage-macs <vintage-macs@googlegroups.com> Sent: Fri, Jul 29, 2016 2:34 pm Subject: Re: Finding old Apple Laserwriter On Fri, Jul 29, 2016 at 10:44 AM, bigclaim via Vintage Macs <vintage-macs@googlegroups.com> wrote: > I need to buy 1 or more Apple Laserwriter Prints to use and for parts. > These are called Apple Laserwriter NT, IInt, IIntx, IIg, IIf > > Anyone have any - know where I could find them? > > I looked on E Bay and Amazon and Craigslist - nothing. Like others, I have a couple of old LaserWriters, a IIntx and IInt. The ntx needs the a feed roller replacement and the nt needs the DC controller IIRC. Too heavy and too and hard to ship. Love to give them away if you (or anyone else) can arrange pickup in Connecticut. --glen -- -- ----- You received this message because you are a member of the Vintage Macs group. 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