CRAFT-O-TRON MACHINE

Pittsburgh Craft-O-Tron Machine

generates a big following by dispensing small art

By Kristy Locklin

Lynne Kropinak manages a traveling craft show that weighs at least 400 pounds.

“It’s like moving a refrigerator,” she says with a laugh.

The Canonsburg resident is the brains – and muscle – behind the Pittsburgh Craft-O-Tron (www.facebook. com/craftotron/), an old cigarette vending machine that she bought for $100 on eBay and repurposed into a roving art dispenser.

Instead of Marlboros, “Tronny” is stocked with stickers, pins, patches, jewelry, keychains and other baubles made by local artists. Every few months, Kropinak loads the hulking contraption into the back of her mini-van and transports it to a different area business.

Over the last decade, it’s been housed in breweries, coffee shops, ice cream parlors, restaurants and book stores … places that generate a lot of foot traffic. For the time being, it’s stationed at Tazza D’Oro Café & Espresso Bar in Millvale.

Customers plunk five bucks into Tronny, select an item from one of the 22 slots, pull a knob and walk a way with a tiny treasure that comes in a custom box that can be recycled.

Located in Pittsburgh’s Regent Square neighborhood Thai Cottage offers an amazing selection of authentic Thai Cuisine.

1109 S Braddock Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15218 | 412.241.8424 | ThaiCottagePgh.com Once or twice a week, Kropinak ventures to the host business and spends a few hours taking inventory, restocking, performing routine maintenance and connecting with makers who want to sell their wares. They earn about $3 off of each sale and are paid before their work goes into the machine.

More than 200 crafters, ranging in age from 13 to 70, have had their work featured in Tronny. Popular fixtures include Alicia Kachmar’s crocheted pierogi (www.etsy.com/ shop/EternalSunshine) and Kreepy Dolls by Daniel Baxter (www. kreepydollfactory. com/NEW/The_ Kreepy_Doll_Factory_ Home_Page.html).

One of the current artists, Anna Calabrese, of O’Hara Township, makes Pittsburghthemed stickers and sells them two to a box. (www.etsy.com/ shop/CalabazaaaCo)

She sought out the machine when it was at The Black Cat Market in Lawrenceville.

“I thought it was the coolest idea ever,” she says. “People are more inclined to buy a little piece of art instead of something big. It’s like a sampling.” She’s sold about 44 stickers in the last month, which didn’t earn her a lot of money, but did draw attention to her Etsy page.

Kropinak says the machine provides a great avenue for new artists to generate business. People from across the country contact her to find out how they can bring a CraftO-Tron to their city.

“It gives people from out-of-town a nice, little souvenir,” she says.