So I purchased what was told to me was an Eprom Programmer. It's called the Comstar
Process Control Compiler.
With some digging, I am learning that this is a portable compiler that allows you to
program larger industrial computers.
I found an article from 1975 that talks about the unit.
Development of a portable compiler for industrial microcomputer systems
http://www.computer.org/csdl/proceedings/afips/1975/5083/00/50830033.pdf
From the article:
"THE PORTABLE PROCESS
CONTROL COMPILER The process control compiler shown in Figure 6 is a small portable unit
designed for programming the Comstar 4 Industrial Microcomputer System. The programming
can be accomplished with high reliability even in field conditions. The PCL instructions
are keyed in via the compiler keyboard, then converted into machine language and loaded
into the PROM chip by the compiler. The input functions are displayed directly on a 32
character alpha-numeric plasma display, ensuring the user of a correct input. All keyed-in
commands are stored in a buffer which can be verified with a key command. Up to 256 bytes
of data or instructions can be entered. Data are compiled and can be dumped into a clean
erased PROM chip. As an option, EIA or TTY outputs are available so the program can be
printed out for future reference. A compiler can also edit, erase or program PROMS in
machine language."
A company by the name of Warner & Swasey was an industrial machine company. They built
all sorts of machines for industry. They had a sub division called Comstar which designed
industrial computers The larger computers ran their own Process Control Language and so
they developed this machine as a portable device to program the larger machines and then
burn ROMs which then control the larger computers. The person I bought it from told me
that the larger systems ran a chicken processing plant and that they used this system to
program and troubleshot the system.
The unit runs on an Intel 4004 and is programmed using Comstar's Process Control
Language.
I'm hoping someone would know more about this and can point me in the right
direction..
I already checked Bit Savers
The only other article that seems to talk about this is "Micros can provide more
flexibility for less money" Computerworld Sep 25, 1974, Page 28