Wednesday 30 December 2015

W. Heath Robinson – part 20


William Heath Robinson (1872 – 1944) was an English illustrator and cartoonist, best known for his drawings of complicated machines for achieving simple objectives. “Heath Robinson Contraption” is a phrase that entered the language during WW1 in Britain, and later in the United States.


William wrote and illustrated three highly successful children’s books (The Adventures of Uncle Lubin 1902, Bill the Minder 1912, Peter Quip in Search of a Friend 1933) as well as illustrating numerous others.

In the run up to WW1, Robinson became known for a series of drawings in magazines such as The Sketch and The Tatler, many of which I will be featuring in this comprehensive look at his work.



This is part 20 of a 20 – part series on the works of W. Heath Robinson



1943 How to Run a Communal Home:


A Community Supper Party

An Interesting Ceremony in a Communal Home - Signing the Housekeeping Cheque on Saturday Morning
pen and ink 22.8 x 13.3 cm

And So to Bed
pen and ink 20.3 x 15.2 cm

Another Revival of an Old Ceremony 'The Birthday Kiss'
pen and ink 11.3 x 14 cm

Carrying on in the Dining Room During Spring Cleaning in a Communal Establishment
pen and ink 10.8 x 38.7 cm

Collective Good Bye to the Children When Off to the Office in the Morning
pen and ink 11.4 x 13.9 cm

Communal Deck Chairs
pen and ink 7.6 x 13.9 cm

Communal Dominoes
pen and ink 8.9 x 13.3 cm

Cultivating the Perfect Lullaby Rhythm
pen and ink 11.4 x 14 cm

Dental Inspection with no Fuss
pen and ink 10.1 x 15.2 cm

Drawing Lots for the Next Bath
pen and ink 8.5 x 23.9 cm

For Checking that Growing Stiffness of the Joints
pen and ink 19.7 x 14 cm

Inauguration of the Strawberry and Cream Season - Bringing in the First Strawberry
 pen and ink12.7 x 18 cm

Inculcating the Communal Virtues - Resisting Temptation
pen and ink 15.9 x 12.7 cm

Inoffensive Method of Choosing by Weight
pen and ink 11.4 x 11.4 cm

Learning Communal Table Manners - An Exercise in Self-Restraint

Modesty Toilet Boxes for Those Who Share a Common Dressing Room
pen and ink 15.8 x 15.2 cm

Parlour Golf
pen and ink 23.5 x 14.6 cm

Pill & Spoon Cricket For Winter Evenings
pen and ink 6.3 x 16.5 cm

Revival of the Time-Honoured Rite of Tossing the Pancake on Shrove Tuesday
pen and ink 16.5 x 13.9 cm

Sectional View of Modern Flats Explaining the Use of the Communal Bath
pen and ink 13.9 x 11.4 cm

Selecting a Mate - Which Shall it be?
pen and ink 10.2 x 15.9 cm

Selecting Mate - Disguised Chromium Lung Test
pen and ink 10.2 x 12.7 cm

Six-Handed Draughts
pen and ink 12.7 x 12.7 cm

Spring Cleaning - Arrival of Sweep During Breakfast Time
pen and ink 7 x 16.5 cm

Studying the Unsocial and Predatory Habits of the Mosquito
pen and ink 10.8 x 12.1 cm

Sweeping the Carpet in the Lounge without Disturbing the Occupants
pen and ink 14 x 15.2 cm

Testing Fiancée's Reaction to Shock
pen and ink 15.2 x 13.3 cm

The Bedside Gas Cooker - Breakfast in Bed for the Hard-Worked Housewife
pen and ink 13.3 x 14 cm

The Botany Lesson - Taking No Chances
pen and ink 10.8 x 10.2 cm

The Communal Spirit - Community Hair-Dressing
pen and ink 13.3 x 14 cm

The Communal Spirit in Nature - A Communal Bird's Nest
pen and ink 6.3 x 16.4 cm

The Communal Spirit in the Park
pen and ink 10. x 10.8 cm

The Diamond Wedding. Really Useful Presents
pen and ink 8.2 x 12.7 cm

The Exciting Game of Multiple Oughts and Crosses for the Older Members of the Community
pen and ink 10.8 x 15.2 cm

The Expando Fireside Settee
pen and ink 12.7 x 15.2 cm

The Harmonic Dresser for Relieving Kitchen Toil
pen and ink 15.2 x 13.9 cm

The Monthly Overhaul
pen and ink 20.3 x 13.9 cm

The Morning Brush Before Going to the Office
pen and ink 7.6 x 10.8 cm

The Perfect Type
pen and ink 12.7 x 12.7 cm

The Proposal Screen - For Making Proposals in Crowded Rooms
pen and ink 10.8 x 13.9 cm

The Spanking Machine for Testing the Vigour of the Smack Before Assuming Responsibilities of Motherhood
pen and ink 8.5 x 12.1 cm

The Triangle - Interesting Method of Teaching Elementary Geometry
pen and ink 13.9 x 9.5 cm

The Uncommunist
pen and ink 13.1 x 12.7 cm

The Weekly Weigh
pen and ink 2 images 8.5 x 13.9 cm each

To Avoid Temptation and Embarrassing Situations on St. Valentine's Morning
pen and ink 9.5 x 16.2 cm

Useful Communal Sport - The Potato Peeling Race
pen and ink 12.1 x 16.5 cm

Weaning the Baby. The Ancient Ceremony of the First Bottle
pen and ink 12.7 x 15.9 cm

Welcome Home From the Office in the Evening
pen and ink 8.5 x 13.9 cm