VIC-1525 Graphic Printer
The VIC-1525 is a 7-pin dot matrix impact printer which uses inked ribbon cartridges and tractor feed paper. This printer was the second "official" printer for the VIC-20 computer, after the VIC-1515 Graphic Printer. The VIC-1525 operates on the Commodore Serial bus and is capable of printing upper & lower case letters and the special PETSCII graphic characters used by the VIC-20. The case colour & sticker fit in with the "white, black & brown" design ethos of the VIC-20 family of peripherals. Like the VIC-1515, it was a "no-frills", noisy device with few features, slow performance & low print quality. However, it was still highly attractive to consumers because of its low price compared to more professional printers. The VIC-1525 was manufactured by a third party (Seikosha). Non-Commodore printers using this hardware were the nearly identical "Gorilla Banana", "Tandy DMP-100" and "Radio Shack LPVII". The VIC-1525 differed from these by the colour of its moulded plastic, the addition of a Commodore serial bus port, device number switch and custom PETSCII ROM.
The only control on the face of the VIC-1525 is a mechanical dial which can be used to advance the tractor feed paper. The VIC-1525 only has a single CBM serial bus connector. This means that if other serial devices are used then the VIC-1525 must be the last device in the chain.
