W. Heath Robinson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 31 May 1872 Hornsey Rise, Middlesex, England |
| Died | 13 September 1944 (aged 72) London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Illustrator, cartoonist and artist |
| Known for | Drawings of odd contraptions |
William Heath Robinson (31 May 1872 – 13 September 1944) was an English cartoonist, illustrator and artist who drew whimsically elaborate machines to achieve simple objectives.[1]
The earliest citation in the Oxford English Dictionary for the use of "Heath Robinson" as a noun describing any unnecessarily complex and implausible contrivance is from 1917.[2][3] The phrase "Heath Robinson contraption" perhaps most commonly describes temporary fixes using ingenuity and whatever is to hand, often string and tape, or unlikely cannibalisations. Its continuing popularity was undoubtedly linked to Britain's shortages during the Second World War and the need to "make do and mend".
- ^ Bryant, Mark (2006). World War I in Cartoons. London: Grub Street. p. 17. ISBN 190494356X.
- ^ Chilvers, Ian; Glaves-Smith, John (2009). A Dictionary of Modern and Contemporary Art. Oxford University Press. p. 603. ISBN 9780199239658.
The phrase 'Heath Robinson', used to describe eccentric machinery, had entered the language by the First World War (the earliest citation in the Oxford English Dictionary is of 1917).
- ^ "Heath Robinson". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 27 March 2024.(subscription required)