IBM 1403 Printer TrainThe "chain" printer for computers was introduced with the IBM 1401 computer in 1959. Improving both speed and reliability, the IBM 1403 printer's "chain-loop" of characters traveled horizontally at 90 inches a second and printed 600 lines a minute as it was struck by 132 hammers positioned across the paper. The last IBM 1403 — of more than 23,000 shipped to U.S. customers — was delivered in 1983.