For a number of years now I have been researching this computer called a Comstar System 4 which is based on the Intel 4004. The Comstar Corporation of Minneapolis was a developer of microcomputer control and automation systems and in 1972 released the System 4 microcomputer. Comstar built a general purpose capable computer that could be programmed to do a multitude of tasks but their market focus was industrial automation. Comstar was eventually bought by Warner & Swasey in 1974 to integrate their computers into the Warner & Swasey product line. Warner & Swasey was a huge manufacturer of industrial machines. So they bought Comstar to be their Computer division. In fact it was called " Warner & Swasey Comstar Microcomputer Electronic Products" Warner and Swasey also licensed the Micral N to do the same and we call the Micral N a computer. The Micral N was designed for process control, but we know of it as a computer.
Now before anyone argues about if this is a computer or not, I will state the following.
It was called a Microcomputer in the ACM titled "Development of a
Anyway I wanted to see if there was more interest in researching this computer.
I listed a number of articles and references below that either discuss Comstar, The Warner Swasey Computer Division, the “System 4” or “Star 4” Computer.
All the Manuals and schematics I was able to upload to archive.org
https://archive.org/details/@cliendo/uploads
Pictures of the items I have collected so far
The website "Internet Scripophily Museum of Computing" has a page on the history of The Warner & Swasey Company. It's a decent timeline of the company
ismoc.blogspot.com
"Development of a portable compiler for industrial microcomputer systems" by LEROY H. ANDERSON The Warner & Swasey Company, it discusses the system and has images on the unit.
I'm looking for anyone interested in this and can help find people who worked on it.
Now before anyone argues about if this is a computer or not, I will state the following.
It was called a Microcomputer in the ACM titled "Development of a
- "portable compiler for industrial microcomputer systems " It was called a Microcomputer in Electronics Magazine July 11th 1974 page 84
- It was listed as a Microcomputer in "Auerbach Guide to Minicomputers" April 1976 & Winter 1976 - 1977
- It was listed as a Microcomputer in Datamation Magazine Dec 1974 page 97
- It was called a Microcomputer in "A MICROCOMPUTER BASED SUBSTATION CONTROL SYSTEM" The University of Oklahoma, Ph.D., 1975 Engineering, electronics and electrical Page 90
- It was listed as a Microcomputer in the Intel MCS 4 User Manual Feb 1973 page 171
- It was listed as a Microcomputer in Electronics Magazine Jan 1973, Page 45
Anyway I wanted to see if there was more interest in researching this computer.
I listed a number of articles and references below that either discuss Comstar, The Warner Swasey Computer Division, the “System 4” or “Star 4” Computer.
All the Manuals and schematics I was able to upload to archive.org
https://archive.org/details/@cliendo/uploads
Pictures of the items I have collected so far
The website "Internet Scripophily Museum of Computing" has a page on the history of The Warner & Swasey Company. It's a decent timeline of the company
The Warner & Swasey Company
ISMOC is a virtual online museum of antique bond and stock certificates related to companies who shaped the computer history.
ismoc.blogspot.com
"Development of a portable compiler for industrial microcomputer systems" by LEROY H. ANDERSON The Warner & Swasey Company, it discusses the system and has images on the unit.
I'm looking for anyone interested in this and can help find people who worked on it.
