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Silly Collection

Background imageSilly Collection: Pea Apparatus by William Heath Robinson

Pea Apparatus by William Heath Robinson
An interesting and elegant apparatus designed to overcome once for all the difficulties of conveying green peas to the mouth

Background imageSilly Collection: A Decided Catch by William Heath Robinson

A Decided Catch by William Heath Robinson
The Whitebait cycle, an ingenious contraption necessitated by the exorbitant charges for hire of boats at the seaside this season

Background imageSilly Collection: His Masters Breath - Satire

His Masters Breath - Satire
His Masters Breath Satirical play on the dog/gramophone logo for His Masters Voice, substituting the music player for a whiskey jar and funnel

Background imageSilly Collection: Bound to Draw by William Heath Robinson

Bound to Draw by William Heath Robinson
Another well-thought-out experiment in dentistry from Heath Robinson, the Gadget King and mastermind behind endless convoluted contraptions and silly ideas. Date: 1927

Background imageSilly Collection: Great Snoring

Great Snoring
A signpost pointing to the village of Great Snoring, North Norfolk, England, has clearly effected the man beneath it!

Background imageSilly Collection: Mixing treated asbestos fibre, Heath Robinson machine

Mixing treated asbestos fibre, Heath Robinson machine
Efficient plant for the successful mixing of treated asbestos fibre with cement. A drawing done by William Heath Robinson for Turners Asbestos Cement Co

Background imageSilly Collection: Patent double action grinder for asbestos by Heath Robinson

Patent double action grinder for asbestos by Heath Robinson
A patent double-action grinder for mashing asbestos fibre - a drawing done for Turners Asbestos Cement Co by William Heath Robinson, renowned for his machines and convoluted contraptions. Date: c.1925

Background imageSilly Collection: Self-Help in War Time by Heath Robinson Building a Bungalow

Self-Help in War Time by Heath Robinson Building a Bungalow
No III - Building a bungalow: Now, having made a good start with your music-room, place your piano in position. A rather back to front way of house construction from the crazy mind of William Heath

Background imageSilly Collection: A cunning stroke by William Heath Robinson

A cunning stroke by William Heath Robinson
A clever but unsportsmanlike contrivance to increase buoyance and prevent fatigue among Channel swimmers. A useful inflatable idea to help long-distance swimmers by the gadget king

Background imageSilly Collection: The Last train from Bangor, Northern Ireland

The Last train from Bangor, Northern Ireland Date: circa 1906

Background imageSilly Collection: Rejected by the inventions board

Rejected by the inventions board
" Rejected by the inventions board. VII -The Gallipoli Shell-Diverter for returning the Enemys Fire" There were other theatres of war besides he Western Front

Background imageSilly Collection: Manila Carnival, The Philippines - Miss Ilocos Sur

Manila Carnival, The Philippines - Miss Ilocos Sur
Illustration after Walter Dendy Sadler (18541923) of his painting Thursday (Tomorrow will be Friday) of 1880, showing a group of jovial monks out fishing. Date: 1880

Background imageSilly Collection: Bermuda - Humorous Greetings Postcard - Onion

Bermuda - Humorous Greetings Postcard - Onion
Blessed is the man who comes to Bermuda (The modern paradise) And is tempted to eat a sweet onion instead of a forbidden apple

Background imageSilly Collection: Mr Popple Drunk 1898

Mr Popple Drunk 1898
After a convivial hunt breakfast at Hopham Hall, Mr Popple is found drunk and disorderly in charge of a horse

Background imageSilly Collection: In the support trench by Bruce Bairnsfather, WW1 cartoon

In the support trench by Bruce Bairnsfather, WW1 cartoon
" Old Bill has practically decided to try to get Private Shinio (the ex-comedy-juggler-and-hand-balancer) transferred to another platoon." The stoicism of Captain Bruce Bairnsfathers

Background imageSilly Collection: Jacks Saloon, Happy Hollow, Hot Springs, Arkansas

Jacks Saloon, Happy Hollow, Hot Springs, Arkansas
Jacks Sallon Bar at Happy Hollow. An " amusement park" of sorts, Happy Hollow was established in the late 1880s or early 1890s by Norman McLeod off Central Avenue on what is now Fountain

Background imageSilly Collection: Classic Tight Scotsman Joke - Lured by six beauties

Classic Tight Scotsman Joke - Lured by six beauties
Classic Tight Scotsman Joke - A stereotype Jock doesn t hang on long to his tight purse strings as six pretty girls required a drink! " It wasn t long here till bang went saxpence

Background imageSilly Collection: When Germany Surrenders her U-Boats by Heath Robinson, WW1

When Germany Surrenders her U-Boats by Heath Robinson, WW1
Why not use the enemy craft for peaceful sport? Ramming rabbits in the Balearic Islands. An inventive suggestion from the ingenious mind of William Heath Robinson for German U-boats following the end

Background imageSilly Collection: Drunken man staggering home - about to hit lampost

Drunken man staggering home - about to hit lampost
Racing Illustrated - " Some delay at the post!" - a gentleman who has had a serious session at the Old Blue Bell (see 10909661) endeavours to make his way home

Background imageSilly Collection: Irish Drunk Pat and his drinking logic

Irish Drunk Pat and his drinking logic
Tourist - " I say Pat, why do you always take beer and whiskey Mixed?" Pat - " Shure, yer Anner, if oi dhrink beer oi get full before oi m dhrunk

Background imageSilly Collection: Funny Saucy Wedding Postcard

Funny Saucy Wedding Postcard
Bawdy humourin this saucy postcard, depicting a bride and grrom in front of their vicar. The bride has her hand full... "...to have and to hold - until death us do part..." Date: circa 1910s

Background imageSilly Collection: English Lunacy - A man dressed as a chicken running wild and free across a field and up a small hill

English Lunacy - A man dressed as a chicken running wild and free across a field and up a small hill

Background imageSilly Collection: (The Morning After of a Faun) Le Lendemain d un Faune (or

(The Morning After of a Faun) Le Lendemain d un Faune (or, What an Afternoon ) - The Great success of the new ballet L Apres-Midi d un Faune in which the faun, failing to abduct the nymph herself

Background imageSilly Collection: Good Egg by H. M. Bateman

Good Egg by H. M. Bateman
An un-ovoid-able Easter Spheroddity by H. M. Bateman. Date: 1923

Background imageSilly Collection: Two women in fancy dress with tankards

Two women in fancy dress with tankards
Two women in fancy dress costumes comprising of knickerbockers, shirts and waistcoats, raise a tankard of beer each - presumably they re meant to be some kind of 17th century roisterers? c.1928

Background imageSilly Collection: A very early type of railway signal by W Heath Robinson

A very early type of railway signal by W Heath Robinson
A very early type of railway signal now rarely to be seen - an example from Railway Ribaldry, drawn by William Heath Robinson and commissioned by the Great Western Railway to mark their centenary

Background imageSilly Collection: Blasting Limpets by William Heath Robinson

Blasting Limpets by William Heath Robinson
Heath Robinsons Encyclopaedia of Sport - X. Blasting limpets on the Barbary Coast. Another unusual sport suggested by William Heath Robinson. Date: 1914

Background imageSilly Collection: Mine and Countermine by Heath Robinson

Mine and Countermine by Heath Robinson
A tunnelling stand off between a British and German soldier with the German soldier eventually burrowing so deeply he falls out of the other side of the world. Date: 1915

Background imageSilly Collection: A Lincolnshire Handicap by Heath Robinson

A Lincolnshire Handicap by Heath Robinson
A race between cranes at the test ground of excavation specialists, Ruston-Bucyrus, who commissioned the ingenious Heath Robinson to draw a number of comical engineering drawings for a booklet

Background imageSilly Collection: A Welsh Rabbit (Rarebit?) complete with traditional costume

A Welsh Rabbit (Rarebit?) complete with traditional costume
A Welsh Rabbit (Rarebit?) complete with traditional Welsh costume. Date: 1904

Background imageSilly Collection: A Texans eye view of the USA

A Texans eye view of the USA, with a certain state having slightly more georgraphical significance than the physical reality....!! Date: circa 1930s

Background imageSilly Collection: Cartoon - Swallowing a yarn

Cartoon - Swallowing a yarn
A little blackbird fails to consume a length of twine: " I can t swallow that yarn." Date: circa 1915

Background imageSilly Collection: Girl saying Grace but pet dog unwilling

Girl saying Grace but pet dog unwilling
" Fold Your hands Bob!" A pretty young girl says Grace, but is slightly affronted that her pet dog Bob is unwilling to join in and fold his paws together respectfully.... Date: circa 1910

Background imageSilly Collection: Some Difficult Camping Grounds by Heath Robinson

Some Difficult Camping Grounds by Heath Robinson
A variety of impractical and in some cases, downright ridiculous locations to pitch a tent, including on stilts in a lake, across a stream, in a field of angry bulls and on a steep rocky pinnacle

Background imageSilly Collection: The Lost Ball - Heath Robinson Cartoon

The Lost Ball - Heath Robinson Cartoon
The Lost Ball. Golfers try in vain to retrieve a lost ball in a lake on a golf course. It appears that a passing fish has swallowed it!

Background imageSilly Collection: A Top Notcher

A Top Notcher
Cartoon, A Top Notcher. One of the silly mistakes one makes when paying golf when it snows in Scotland. A short sighted golfer mistakes a bobble hat for the ball

Background imageSilly Collection: Misfitz - Spoony

Misfitz - Spoony. early 20th century

Background imageSilly Collection: Misfitz - Qua-Qua

Misfitz - Qua-Qua. early 20th century

Background imageSilly Collection: Crabbing Their Style by William Heath Robinson

Crabbing Their Style by William Heath Robinson
Cartoon, Crabbing their style. Toeing for crabs at and seaside resort during the holiday months. Men crab fishing using feet as bait

Background imageSilly Collection: I could do with a new photograph of you girlie

I could do with a new photograph of you girlie
Bonzo outside his tent with a photograph of his girl covered in kisses. Date: circa 1940

Background imageSilly Collection: Tattooing - Drunk Tattooist has got carried away

Tattooing - Drunk Tattooist has got carried away
Tattooing - Drunk Tattooist (Professor Smith) has got carried away... " Its taking you a long time to write I love Annie !" Date: circa 1920s

Background imageSilly Collection: The perils of sitting on a freshly-painted park bench

The perils of sitting on a freshly-painted park bench
A humorous postcard cataloguing in 6 frames, the perils of sitting on a freshly-painted park bench. A masher " the vacant seat

Background imageSilly Collection: WW1 era - Saucy French postcard

WW1 era - Saucy French postcard
" Why do you keep your helmet on?" " Its because I hope to go scouting." !!! Date: circa 1915

Background imageSilly Collection: Skegness is SO bracing - McGill parody of Hassall poster

Skegness is SO bracing - McGill parody of Hassall poster
Skegness is SO bracing - A Donald McGill parody of the famous Jolly Fisherman poster created by artist John Hassall in 1908 for the Great Northern Railway (GNR)

Background imageSilly Collection: Bonzo the Policeman - George E. Studdy - Clacton-on-Sea

Bonzo the Policeman - George E. Studdy - Clacton-on-Sea
circa 1920s

Background imageSilly Collection: Rinking - Roller Skating fun for all ages - When Awkwardness is useful!. Date

Rinking - Roller Skating fun for all ages - When Awkwardness is useful!. Date
Rinking - Roller Skating fun for all ages - " When Awkwardness is useful!". Date: circa 1905

Background imageSilly Collection: Heres a lad a-being naught - saying things he never ought! A young scamp of a country

Heres a lad a-being naught - saying things he never ought! A young scamp of a country lad whispers something rather cheeky into his young girl friends ear! Date: 1950

Background imageSilly Collection: Kitty in London - Glamorous girl with two cats and HUGE hat

Kitty in London - Glamorous girl with two cats and HUGE hat
Kitty in London - Glamorous girl with two cats and a HUGE green hat with feathers. Date: circa late 1904



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