W. Heath Robinson

Who was W. Heath Robinson?

William Heath Robinson was an English cartoonist and illustrator, best known for drawings of eccentric machines.

In the UK, the term "Heath Robinson" has entered the language as a description of any unnecessarily complex and implausible contraption, similar to "Rube Goldberg" in the U.S. "Heath Robinson" 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 popularity is undoubtedly linked to Second World War Britain's shortages and the need to "make do and mend".