HP C1740A LaserJet Fax Machine RS-232 Serial Parallel 300 DPI Made in Japan

HP C1740A LaserJet Fax Machine RS-232 Serial Parallel 300 DPI Made in Japan

The HP C1740A is a compact desktop LaserJet fax machine from Hewlett-Packard that combines laser-quality printing with full stand-alone fax capability. It connects directly to a PC via its RS-232 serial and parallel ports, allowing it to function as a printer in addition to sending and receiving faxes. The front panel features an LCD display, a full alphanumeric autodial keypad, and dedicated mode buttons for fax, copy, print report, and setup.

Specifications & What's Included

• Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
• Model: C1740A
• Type: LaserJet Fax Machine
• Print Resolution: 300 DPI
• PC Interface Ports: RS-232 Serial (PC Serial), Parallel — Printer Parallel and PC Parallel (three rear ports total)
• Phone Jack: RJ11 (USOC)
• Power: 120V AC, 60Hz, 0.8A
• FCC ID: CMC1740 (Class B computing device)
• FCC Registration: ITCJPN-18710-FA-E
• Ringer Equivalence: 0.7A, 1.0B
• Country of Manufacture: Japan
• Form Factor: Compact desktop
• Certifications: UL, CSA
• Included: Fax machine only — no manual, cables, or peripherals

Applications

The HP LaserJet Fax C1740A was designed for small offices and workgroups that needed laser-quality fax output without a separate printer. Introduced in the early-to-mid 1990s, it sits at the intersection of HP's LaserJet printer line and stand-alone fax technology — a combination that was common before all-in-one inkjet MFPs became dominant. Its RS-232 serial and parallel PC connections allowed it to serve double duty as a PC printer, making it a space-saving choice for desks where footprint mattered. Today these units are sought by collectors of vintage HP office equipment and by operators of legacy systems that require a parallel or serial-connected laser output device. The compact, self-contained design and laser engine also make it useful as a stand-alone fax receiver in environments that still handle fax transmissions on plain paper.