Brother EP43 Paper Empty Feature

#typewriter #thermaltypewriter
In Episode 408 of the Typewriter Video Series, Joe delves into the Paper Empty feature of the Brother EP43 thermal typewriter and why some machines have it while others don't.
Known serial number sequences and Paper Empty feature:
B6115xxxx = Has Paper Empty feature
E6146xxxx = Does not have Paper Empty feature
F6420xxxx = Does not have Paper Empty feature

[@Channelscruf]

I don’t care what anyone says, Joe. You rock! 😉

[@tmunk]

Brother serials have the initial letter code that indicates "Month" of manufacture. B=February and so on. The first numeric digit is the last digit of the year, so they were all made in 1986, but the "B" one has a 1985 logic board.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Thank you!

[@Linus007]

Great video. Be careful with those ribbon cables.

[@indigothefox-ku9so]

Just got a Brother EP-41 (the more basic model)and it does have this feature and the manual that came with it talked about it.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Thank you!

[@Linus007]

I do not like the end of paper feature on the Panasonic Thermal Typewriters. It stops all action until you replace the paper or block the sensor. These typewriter manufacturers had a different view on the bottom margin that is out of alignment with others’ views. Smaller papers require smaller margins. I type a lot on A6 paper and every line counts. I think that it might be a great project to add a switch to the typewriter to bypass the sensor.

[@dianemaher3538]

Joe, I'm glad that you were able to do something with that EP-43! Do other models (Brother or otherwise) have this same feature?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

I don’t remember other models or brands having this feature.

[@JosephDickson]

Brother in 1985: "We gotta save a few dollars per unit but can't increase the price, lets remove a feature." Me thinks hardware shrink-flation was at play.

[@JessicaFEREM]

Probably figured nobody would miss it or it annoyed someone at brother and it gave them a method of cost cutting, or it was an unreliable feature so they cut it out to save repair time Both can be true at the same time