Abstract: The invention provides an improved label printing apparatus comprising, in a first aspect, a printer head for printing information on a plurality of labels carried on a backing sheet, the printer head being mounted on a carrier plate which is hingedly mounted along one edge thereof so as to be displaceable between a first printing position and a second non-printing position, the apparatus being provided with means to cause such displacement comprising first magnetic means arranged to hold the carrier plated in the second position against a force exerted by a spring which is compressed in this position, the means further including second magnetic means having a reversible polarity such that the carrier plated may be attracted or repelled thereto or repelled therefrom.