IBM 4610

import serial
import struct

# select, configure and open the serial interface
with serial.Serial('/dev/ttyUSB0', 19200, timeout=5) as ser:
    # tell the printer to respond with its ID information
    ser.write(b'\x1d\x49\x01')

    # read the first two bytes of the response
    message_length_data = ser.read(2)
    # convert the data to an integer
    message_length = struct.unpack('>H', message_length_data)[0]

    print('Message length: {}'.format(message_length))

    # read the entire response. keep in mind that the first two bytes have already been read
    raw_data = ser.read(message_length - 2)

    # Because the two bytes denoting the length have been read earlier, the response is two bytes shorter
    # than the length of the message. The first byte of the actual status response is therefor is 1 and the highest is 13
    # The status bytes are being pushed into a python list [] object which start its indexing at 0 so 1 must be subtracted
    # from they byte number reference in the user guide and in the comments.
    # 
    # Check if the message is indeed a response to a printer ID request:
    if raw_data[4] & (1 << 0) != 0: 
        # byte 9 gives a rough indication of the printer type:
        if raw_data[8] == 0x30:
            print('Type: non-Tx8/Tx9 model, or Tx8/Tx9 in TI4 emulation mode')
        elif raw_data[8] == 0x31:
            print('Type: Tx8 or Tx9 model')

        # byte 10 indicates the model more closely and distinguishes between features regarding to memory options:
        if raw_data[9] == 0x00:
            print('Device ID: Models TI1 and TI2 (impact DI/thermal CR)')
        elif raw_data[9] == 0x01:
            print('Device ID: Models TI3, TI4, TI8, TI9, TG3, and TG4 (high speed; impact DI/thermal CR)')
        elif raw_data[9] == 0x02:
            print('Device ID: Models TI3, TI4, TG3, and TG4 with the 2MB option')
        elif raw_data[9] == 0x03:
            print('Device ID: Models TF6 and TM6 (512K; thermal CR)')
        elif raw_data[9] == 0x04:
            print('Device ID: Models TI3, TI4, TG3, and TG4 with the 8MB option')
        elif raw_data[9] == 0x05:
            print('Device ID: Models TF6 and TM6 with the 8MB option')
        elif raw_data[9] == 0x06:
            print('Reserved (0x06)')
        elif raw_data[9] == 0x07:
            print('Models TF6 and TM6 with the 2MB option')

        # bytes 11 and 12 indicate individual features like presence of MICR-reader, check flipper, emulation or two-color mode etc.

        # byte 13 contains the microcode level, which is always referred to in hexadecimal notation:
        print('Printer microcode level: {:02X}'.format(raw_data[12]))