PURPOSE: To provide the printer in the title wherein marks are detected by the up and down shifting operation of a type wheel, the kinds of its type elements are read, and the amount of the data by which the kinds of the type elements are identified can be readily increased.

CONSTITUTION: The marks 51 and 52 made of magnetic pieces are appropriately provided on and beneath a mark bracket 11 which is attached to the type wheel 4'. A magnetic sensor 6 is provided on a fixed side. When the type wheel 4' is shifted up at a home position, the mark 52 is detected by the magnetic sensor 6. When the type wheel 4' is shifted down, the mark 51 is detected.