Sourcing DMP2000 ribbon

[darkhalf]

Looking for a ribbon for the DMP-2000 printer

I've recently acquired one of these printers but it did not come with a ribbon. I had found a spanish website which sold them

https://www.jlmangas.com/es/inicio/1792-amstrad-dmp20003160-overlap-weld-de-072mm-72cm.html

So managed to get some ordered. Later they replied they actually did not have stock and refunded the order

There was a similar Reddit post 

from r/Amstrad

https://www.reddit.com/r/Amstrad/comments/lf9iev/printer_ribbon_for_amstrad_dmp2160/
Which said that C.Itoh was the main producer of the printers and Fulihua had the moulds, but not the equipment to manufacture using them (were listed on AliExpress) so that is a dead end
https://m.alibaba.com/product/60378203298/Compatible-printer-ribbon-for-AMSTRAD-DMP2000.html

Other links I found also no stock (listed other compatible models)
http://tandy.wiki/DMP-100

http://www.inkcartridges.co.nz/amstrad-dmp2000-dm3160-printer-ribbon

https://www.deminkjet.com/sdp/214474/4/cp-4407141/0/Other_Ribbon.html

I found another site, but no response:
http://www.satcom.lv/?l=3&new_lang=1&l=3&c=9&p=18000

Does anyone else have any leads where to purchase these, or something similar which I could modify that may work? Or even an old dry ribbon floating around which I can purchase and try and revive. Ribbon length is 72cm length. Thanks

[darkhalf]

Had a few responses on the va-de-retro forum
https://www.va-de-retro.com/foros/viewtopic.php?t=10660

https://www.microdisk.es/cintas/2241-cinta-amstrad-dmp-2000-3000-0000000016131.html

https://www.thesuppliesshop.co.uk/catasp/pdetl.asp?fldStockID=10881

See how we go

[eto]

Please share if it works out. The question comes up every now and then and a real source would be great. 

[darkhalf]

I might end up purchasing a few if other people are interested, since double shipping is going to be expensive. Shipping costs from Australia are not great though

Rewinding from the forums has been helping my with Spanish only website ordering (after the first Jlmangas order fell through). 

Having two different ribbon sizes with same cartridge housings does not help. 

These are compatible cartridges but the 681 Seikosha cartridges are 0.65M so shorter than the 72cm shown in above images. The seller wants 42EUR for 2 x plus 30EUR shipping (!)
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/352159160382

[darkhalf]

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/124479354229

Images showing the 681 Seikosha cartridge here. Seller says he doesn't know where it is, so my order might cancel, which might be okay if the Spanish (Microdisk.ES) order goes through

[Prodatron]

These are compatible cartridges but the 681 Seikosha cartridges are 0.65M so shorter than the 72cm shown in above images. The seller wants 42EUR for 2 x plus 30EUR shipping (!)
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/352159160382

I was writing with this seller ("Patronen-Shop24") last year. Unfortunately they didn't have DMP2xxx compatible ribbons anymore. Not sure, if this has changed now.

[darkhalf]

Not sure, if this has changed now.

No they don't have anything now

[The Unready]

Looks like the ribbons are well and truly extinct by now, probably Fulihua got rid of the moulds for the plastic parts when they discovered they didn't have a machine to actually produce them.
 I was lucky when I bought my printer and it came with three ribbons - the one inside it now, one I sent to the Danish guy who asked in the Reddit thread above and another one still in its original packaging. Now I'm in an internal conflict: Should I give it away so one more DMP2000 can be revived or keep it in case the one I'm currently using breaks down someday? I also wonder if it would actually print anything if I just put it in the printer or if it's so dried up that without oiling or re-inking it wouldn't work at all. For the moment I'll keep it as Schrödinger's printer ribbon I guess - maybe I'll open it for the DMP-2000's 40th anniversary in 2025. 

[Poliander]

It might be possible to source them via Alibaba => https://german.alibaba.com/product-detail/Compatible-Printer-Ink-Ribbon-for-printer-212021519.html

[tjohnson]

Maybe someone could design the plastic parts for 3D printing

[The Unready]

It might be possible to source them via Alibaba => https://german.alibaba.com/product-detail/Compatible-Printer-Ink-Ribbon-for-printer-212021519.html

It's been attempted two years ago, the company discovered they no longert have the equipment to produce them. Looks like they forgot to delete the Alibaba listing.

[darkhalf]

Just an update. Found a TRS-80 printer uses the DMP-100 ribbon. Confirming these are similar types of ribbon but shorter than the DMP-2000 (like in first image)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wohnzimmerrechenzentrum/sets/72157631981944384/with/8209497332/

There are a few pieces and a spring inside. Would be difficult to replicate on a 3D printer

My ebay order for the second hand ribbon fell through (44EUR shipped, seller couldn't locate the package) and no luck with some other sites we identified

Options for DMP-100 model are:

2x Ebay 55 EUR + 31EUR shipping $140AUD
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/354102545533

Ebay 44USD + $23USD shipping $100AUD

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/255980895803

Both options would need to remove the ribbon and replace with a longer 8mm ribbon to try and make them work on the DMP-2000

Some other spanish website which DMP-2000 listed, didn't actually have stock

There is a DMP-2000 ribbon here 25GPB ($46AUD) plus ship, but waiting for seller to reopen

https://www.thesuppliesshop.co.uk/catasp/pdetl.asp?fldStockID=10881