Before slow dot matrix printers we used line printers -- print a whole line at a time rather than one character at a time. I remember working as a night computer operator taping the end of one box of paper to the start of the next, then taking a nap while the line printers churned out reports no one would read.
One problem - really bloody noisy!! Like can't hear yourself thinking level of noise.
Would definitely recommend for post-apocalypse printing needs.