Abstract: A magnet assembly is disclosed suitable for use in an impact printer to produce a magnetic field for propelling movably mounted hammer coils toward a type bearing surface. The magnet assembly is comprised of a plurality of spaced relatively thin substantially rectangular magnetic members mounted along first and second parallel rows. End bridging bars are provided which, together with the members, form a closed magnetic field path in which the flux lines extend through the thin dimension of the members in one direction in the first row and in an opposite direction in the second row. The members in the first and second rows are aligned so as to define aligned gaps, each pair of aligned gaps receiving a flat hammer coil. In one embodiment, all of the magnetic members are permanent magnets in which rare earth and Alnico type magnets are interleaved. In a second embodiment, rare earth magnets are interleaved with members of soft iron.