The Pathegraphe Language Machine was the first mechanical acoustic device made for teaching languages. The Pathegraph achieves this by playing synchronised audio and visual material: sound is played back from a spoken language disc as a display of related text scrolls from a paper cylinder.

This Pathegraphe was owned by one of Australia's most distinguished botanists, John McConnell Black.

The Pathegraphe was designed and manufactured around 1912 by Charles and Emile Pathe of the French company Pathe Freres. The Pathegraphe was the first machine of its type for teaching languages. The Pathegraphe was one of several new gramophone and related products produced by Pathe from its own designs and as copies of other manufacturers (eg. Edison).

In 1906 Pathe introduced the flat disc record with a vertically engraved 'hill and dale' system with a sapphire playback stylus. In 1925, Pathe Freres stopped manufacturing 'hill and dale ' type discs and began producing discs that recorded the sound information in a lateral wave (as did most other disc manufacturers).

This Pathegraphe was owned and used by John McConnell Black (1855-1951), who was fluent in many languages. After John's death it was held by his son Eustace C. Black until his death, when it passed to the donor's husband.

Gramophone, 'Pathegraphe Language Machine' with discs and cylinders of printed French and Spanish lessons, paper / metal / shellac / timber, made by Pathe Freres, France, 1912

Sound recordings are played on a gramophone using a (90rpm) flat disc with a vertically engraved 'hill and dale' system and a stylus. A synchronised display scrolls across the front of the Pathegraphe from a paper cylinder. An indicator is used to fine tune the synchronisation of the audio to the printed material. The stylus is missing; Pathe discs were played with a sapphire needle and resonant head.


Cylinder rewind handle, motor wind handle and carry handle inside case.

42 centre start discs include 31 x 36cm, 10 x 30cm and 1 x 24cm shellac discs.

39 x 85mm sprocket paper cylinders of printed language lessons.

List of available titles printed in a 25-page catalogue.

A Pathe-reflex gramophone with horn incorporated in lid and a device for synchronously unrolling between spools a roll of paper containing printed text.

The language translation is printed on the top of the roll and can be obscured by a blind that flips into place. The Pathegraphe disc motor is wound up by a handle, and another smaller handle is used for rewinding the printed rolls. The unit comprises the Pathegraphe and 39 paper cylinder rolls printed in French and Spanish. As supplied by Pathe Freres, the Pathegraphe would originally have included fourteen (35cm diameter) discs and twenty six cylinder rolls.

Made: Pathe Freres; Paris, France; 1912

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1912