Below is the PDF printing requirement as documented in the LW 8.5.1 Apple Printer Software Read Me file:
Acrobat Save as File Format - LaserWriter 8.5.1's Save-As-File panel adds Acrobat PDF as one of the supported formats. You must have the full version of Acrobat 3.0 or later installed for this option to be enabled. The Acrobat Reader alone is not sufficient. The application may be purchased from Adobe Systems. For some applications, PDF formatting can be performed in the background only.
Turning on Balloon Help and viewing the help messages for the Print dialog confirms this.