I actually learned the expression when I was a child, via the Professor Branestawm books.
Ok so this is genuinely a case of I see an expression for the first time, learn an expression it, and then see it again immediately after. Fun.
The Baader–Meinhof phenomenon strikes again!
I just learned about this yesterday.
Fellow Branestawm enthusiast here. That is the first time anyone has ever mentioned Professor Branestawm on HN, as far as I can tell! It's triggering deep memories.
"Heath Robinson" is British English for "Rube Goldberg".
TIL
Me too, at first I thought it was a takeoff on "Heathkit". Silly me, I guess.