For decades, Automated Builder was more than a trade magazine. It was “The Source” for industrialized, off-site, and systems-built housing, linking manufacturers, suppliers, and innovators across the country. Longtime readers will remember that the publication began under the earlier title Automation in Housing before later becoming Automated Builder. Under either name, it helped shape conversations and carried ideas from manufacturing, sales, purchasing, and design.
The magazine’s primary focus was manufactured housing, yet it also gave meaningful exposure to the broader structural building components industry. It provided coverage of organizations such as the Wood Truss Council of America (WTCA), later known as the Structural Building Components Association (SBCA). They first published “Wood Words” in the pages of Automated Builder before transitioning to the standalone WOODWORDS magazine (the precursor of SBC Magazine). Automated Builder regularly covered major industry gatherings, including the Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC), where manufacturers and suppliers met to share technology, equipment, and best practices.
That commitment was embodied by Don Carlson.
Don often described his early days as those of a “Cub Reporter,” his term. He learned the industry from the ground up and became an industry legend to all of us. He would drive across the country to cover trade shows and plant innovations, investing time to understand the machinery, technology, and the people behind them. His reporting style was straightforward, personal, and informed by genuine respect for the businesses he covered. He truly believed, like many of us still do, that what we now call off-site construction was the way forward.
For me, Automated Builder was also personal. JobLine advertised in its pages, and I benefited from Don’s mentoring and encouragement. The publication was truly a family effort. Don was the editorial voice and public face. Scott Carlson handled the layouts that gave the magazine its professional polish. Lance Carlson drove sales. Agnes Carlson ran the office and was the glue that held everything together. It was not just a magazine; it was a family business serving an industry family.
Now, I’m asking for your help.
I am personally working to rebuild a comprehensive Automated Builder archive. As a lifelong fan who started getting Automated Builder in the early 1980s, I’ve come to realize that we need to recapture this great legacy before it is lost forever in the digital era.
Help Rebuild an Industry Archive
My goal is to gather as much material as possible to ensure the history is documented accurately and respectfully, so I am seeking:
- Past articles: links, scans, and/or PDFs
- Past issues: electronic and/or paper copies.
If you have hard copies, I am willing to purchase a large volume of back issues to rebuild my Automated Builder library. Just send me a list of the issues you have, and I will make you an offer.
I am also trying to reconnect with Scott Carlson. His perspective on the layouts, production process, and behind-the-scenes stories would be invaluable. If you have contact information for Scott or can help facilitate his contacting me, please reach out.
Somewhere out there is the Automated Builder enthusiast with boxes of back issues. Or, there might be someone who captured these treasures in electronic format and they’re saved on a hard drive somewhere. If that is you, I would love to hear from you.
You can reach me at twm@thejobline.com and 800-289-5627 x1. Thanks in advance for helping preserve this treasured history.