Items related to Contraptions
Synopsis
This distinguished volume of Robinson's art covers the breadth of his comic work, from his early musings on the state of British industries and his very first inventions, to the mocking, anti-German propaganda created during the First World War, and final sketches of the Second, during which he died. "Contraptions" is a definitive collection that will enchant future generations for as long as machines remain machines and human beings need reminding that that is all they will ever be.
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About the Author
W Heath Robinson began his career illustrating works of poetry and children's stories. At magazines such as The Sketch, he developed his humorous illustrations for adults, culminating in the series of inventions for which he became known by his contemporaries as 'The Gadget King'.
From Publishers Weekly
American readers will not recognize Robinson's name, but he can best be explained as the British version of American cartoonist Rube Goldberg, a specialist in visualizing absurdly complex combinations of low-tech devices arranged to perform simple tasks. This was also the specialty of cartoonist and illustrator Robinson, who was born a decade earlier, in 1872. It seems that in Britain a Heath Robertson contraption means the same thing that a Rube Goldberg machine does in the States. Oddly, editor Geoffrey Beare never mentions Goldberg in his introduction; perhaps Goldberg is as unknown in the U.K. as Robinson is here. Beare points to Robinson's skills as both artist and satirist. Robinson often depicts scenes from a low angle and gives them an epic scale, endowing his nonsensical machines with an ironic grandeur while mocking the indolence of the modern man, who would rather rely on gadgetry than perform a simple task himself. Through his cartoons Robinson conveys his own sheer joy in his amazing visual imagination. These cartoons are not laugh-out-loud funny, but are consistently inventive and amusing. The reader may find himself in the position of the black cat who turns up in numerous Robinson cartoons, quietly observing the follies of humanity, fascinated by them. (Nov.)
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- PublisherDuckworth & Co
- Publication date2007
- ISBN 10 0715636944
- ISBN 13 9780715636947
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
- Number of pages192
- Rating
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Heath Robinson Contraptions
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Hardcover. Condition: USED_VERYGOOD. Heath Robinson Contraptions This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9780715636947
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Heath Robinson Contraptions
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ISBN 10: 0715636944
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Hardcover. Condition: USED_VERYGOOD. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780715636947
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Condition: USED_VERYGOOD. Gut/Very good: Buch bzw. Schutzumschlag mit wenigen Gebrauchsspuren an Einband, Schutzumschlag oder Seiten. / Describes a book or dust jacket that does show some signs of wear on either the binding, dust jacket or pages. Seller Inventory # M00715636944-V
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Heath Robinson Contraptions
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ISBN 10: 0715636944
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Hardcover. Condition: USED_VERYGOOD. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good-. First Edition. Light wear to spine, covers and corners; and dustjacket. ; Light wear to spine, covers and corners; and dustjacket. A delightful exploration of Robinson's iconic, eccentric machines. Known for their overly complex designs to achieve simple tasks, these whimsical inventions became synonymous with British humour. Geoffrey C. Beare, an expert on Robinson's work, provides insightful commentary and context, enhancing appreciation for the absurdity and charm of these illustrations. The book highlights Robinson's talent for blending satire with creativity, showcasing his lasting influence on engineering and comedic art. ; Quarto ; 192 pages. Seller Inventory # LCB62307
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Heath Robinson: Contraptions
Published by
Duckworth, 2007
ISBN 10: 0715636944
ISBN 13: 9780715636947
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Hardcover. Condition: USED_NEARFINE. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. First Edition; First Printing. Stiff unmarked book in brilliant orange cloth; in lightly rubbed dust jacket. ; 11.1 X 8.5 X 0.6 inches; 192 pages; A new edition of the most brilliant work of one of the most inventive minds in illustration and cartoon wizardry. Heath Robinson was one of Britain's most successful graphic artists. His work has had a huge influence on comic art in this country, but also on the image and self-image of the British. As the champion of pragmatic man, Heath Robinson presented a vision of the British as an unflappable, ingenious and slightly demented breed of inventors that persists to the present day. The British are still a nation of garage-haunting amateur engineers who will recognise the inhabitants of Heath Robinson's world, with their pot bellies and pots of tea, archaic faces and sturdily commonsensical approach to the problems of existence. How to hunt tigers by elephant, how to get an even tan, rise with the sun or put out a chimney fire, these and many more pressing questions are answered in the pages of Contraptions. With illustrations salvaged from the family archives and commentary by Heath Robinson expert, Geoffrey Beare, "Contraptions" is the best possible introduction to the work of one of Britain's great comic talents. Seller Inventory # 58016
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Heath Robinson Contraptions
Published by
Gerald Duckworth & Co Ltd, 2007
ISBN 10: 0715636944
ISBN 13: 9780715636947
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