Signals identifying alphanumeric characters for a plurality of lines of printing are temporarily stored in a memory while recording paper moves through a printing station having a plurality of rows of character-imprinting elements. Each row is comprised of identical character-imprinting elements and the number of rows is at least equal to the number of distinct characters which may be printed. A control system repetitively examines the memory to detect momentary coincidences between positions on the moving paper and any imprinting elements of any row which correspond to a character to be imprinted at those positions. The control system activates the appropriate imprinting elements as such coincidences occur to effect a very fast multiline form of printout. The rows of imprinting elements are defined on a flat stationary unitized member which may readily be removed and replaced and in which individual rows may be replaced as a unit and the associated actuating elements are also unitized for rapid replacement. Line spacing is adjustable and the system is adaptable to the printing of graphical or pictorial data.