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@pozorvlak@mathstodon.xyz

Post #2330919

2026-05-07 07:48 UTC

RE: https://mathstodon.xyz/@pozorvlak/113335345267753861 Another thing along these lines: Brits, even amongst ourselves, now often say "Rube Goldberg" instead of "Heath Robinson". Now, Brits have been complaining, usually incorrectly, about "Americanisms" since roughly the 5th of July 1776, but this one in particular makes me sad, because Heath Robinson was a much better artist. I mean, look at this stuff: https://www.heathrobinsonmuseum.org/william-heath-robinson/

Replies (6)

  • @moof@cupoftea.social 2026-05-07 08:01

    @pozorvlak@mathstodon.xyz The thing that gets me is that I know Heath Robinson’s stuff, but I can never remember his name when I want to reference him, and googling him when you don’t know his name is well nigh on impossible.

    Open ##2668732

  • @gjm@mathstodon.xyz 2026-05-07 11:31

    @pozorvlak@mathstodon.xyz I'm having trouble working out whether one of WHR and RG copied the other, or whether maybe the idea of the kind of illustration they both became famous for was already in the air before either of them got started. Apparently RG's first absurd-machine drawing was from 1912 and WHR's was a bit later, but WHR's "Uncle Lubin" has some absurd machinery by way of incidental detail and that's from 1902. I completely agree that WHR's drawings have much more character than RG's (but I concede the possibility that I may like them better partly because I encountered them earlier). Apparently the Danish cartoonist "Storm P." did similar things at around the same time. I'm not sure of the chronological relationship there either.

    Open ##2668735

  • @icecolbeveridge@mathstodon.xyz 2026-05-07 11:38

    @pozorvlak@mathstodon.xyz (You may well know, but I need to mention in case you don't): Heath Robinson illustrated the first Professor Branestawm collection.

    Open ##2668736

  • @fanf@mendeddrum.org 2026-05-07 17:25

    @pozorvlak@mathstodon.xyz i grew up with john ireland’s “gentle art of making guinness” hung in series along a staircase lovely illustrations which i think were painted for a calendar in about 1980

    Open ##2668739

  • @jezhiggins@mastodon.me.uk 2026-05-07 17:45

    @pozorvlak@mathstodon.xyz Straight facts, no lies

    Open ##2668741

  • @m@blat.at 2026-05-08 07:48

    @pozorvlak@mathstodon.xyz He also drew this wonderful portrait of his cat (in which he also features as a background character).

    Open ##2668742