Inventions

by W. Heath Robinson

This is a collection of the comic fantasies of the great English artist William Heath Robinson (1872-1944) whose name passed into the English language during his lifetime. Most people know of and love his elementary mechanical world - ancient wooden cogwheels, intricate pulleys, fragile gantries, ingenious tunnels, magnets, and steam kettles kept on the boil by a lighted candle or two; the whole enterprise held together by knotted string and operated by serious workmen with a sprinkling of soberly top-hatted company directors in charge. Heath Robinson's world is now crystallized for all time, so long as machines remain machines and human beings need reminding that that is all they are. This volume covers the whole field of Heath Robinson's comic work in peace and war, from his first mocking anti-German propaganda in World War I down to World War II during which he died. An introduction tells the story of his life.

Genres: Art, Humor

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1940

About the author

William Heath Robinson (31 May 1872 - 13 September 1944) was an English cartoonist and illustrator best known for drawings of ridiculously complicated machines for achieving simple objectives.

His brothers, Thomas Heath Robinson and Charles Robinson were also artists.

In the U.K., the term "Heath Robinson" entered the language during the 1914–1918 First World War as a description of any unnecessarily complex and implausible contrivance, much as "Rube Goldberg machines" came to be used in the U.S. from the 1930s onwards as a term for similar efforts. "Heath Robinson contraption" is perhaps more often used in relation to temporary fixes using ingenuity and whatever is to hand, often string and tape, or unlikely cannibalisations. Its continuing popularity was undoubtedly linked to Second World War Britain's shortages and the need to "make do and mend".

Reviews

[Will O'kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mix together the dry, British humor of P. G. Wodehouse, the whimsy of Dr. Seuss, and the absurdity of Gary Larson's 'Farside' comics, and you end up with the brilliant comics of William Heath Robinson. Robinson's works can be tricky to track down in book form, but they are worth the effort. My kids instantly fell in love with this work, despite the fact that some of the British, WWI era cultural references were lost on them. Hilarious, heart-warming, and imaginative.

Note: The volume that I obtained through a used book shop has the same name but different cover.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always had a love of the works of W Heath Robinson right from my childhood when I first saw is impossible contraptions and bizarre views on the world. Years later I would have the pleasure of meeting and expert on the man and his work and learn even more about him - that he created motivational posters for the London underground during the blitz or that he would illustrate a book of children's fairy tales which would become such an icon of its age that years later the Folio Society would re-create the book in all its glory. HIs work is not for everyone I will be the first one to admit that but for me eccentric and creative take on the world fascinates me and I for one love his creativity.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heath Robinson is always fun, but this was a kindle version and the titles were often on the next page, with the next illustration which made it rather infuriating.