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Discussions => General Discussion => Topic started by: patrickcavanagh on October 14, 2011, 10:23:01 PM

Title: "Double Ray" Any meaning behind the name?
Post by: patrickcavanagh on October 14, 2011, 10:23:01 PM
I know most model names are essentially meaningless, but "Double Ray" is particularly enigmatic. Does anyone know where that name came from?
Title: Re: "Double Ray" Any meaning behind the name?
Post by: Steve_freereeder on October 14, 2011, 11:30:07 PM
I always thought it referred to the two beams of light coming from the ornamental lamps depicted on the instrument body.
See here for photos of Hohner Double Rays over the years.
http://gumshoearcana.blogspot.com/2011/02/many-faces-of-hohner-double-ray.html
Title: Re: "Double Ray" Any meaning behind the name?
Post by: Bill Young on October 14, 2011, 11:57:12 PM
That's a useful link. About the only information omitted is that the Double Ray Black Dot model was commissioned from Hohner by Charlie Forbes of Dundee (Jimmy Shand's employer as an accordion demonstrator) and put on the market in April 1934 (vide Stephen Chambers). Since the model name is in English, it seems a fair assumption that Forbes probably chose the name (why? - who knows?). It's also likely that the "twin headlamp" graphic illustrates the name, rather than the other way round.

Here's a picture of what looks like an original Double Ray, currently on eBay from Scotland.
Title: Re: "Double Ray" Any meaning behind the name?
Post by: ACE on October 15, 2011, 06:59:13 AM
Like most of us he coud not talk when playing so when his mate Ray used to ask if he wanted a drink he just used to nod at his melodeon. ;)
Title: Re: "Double Ray" Any meaning behind the name?
Post by: george garside on October 15, 2011, 10:30:15 AM
double ray - double row?  introduced at a time when single rows were still popular.
george
Title: Re: "Double Ray" Any meaning behind the name?
Post by: Anahata on October 15, 2011, 11:49:30 AM
double ray - double row?  introduced at a time when single rows were still popular.
george

That what I always assumed without questioning it.
Title: Re: "Double Ray" Any meaning behind the name?
Post by: xgx on October 15, 2011, 12:31:36 PM
double ray - double row?  introduced at a time when single rows were still popular.
george

Very likely.... zwei reihig = 2 row

  or

Most likely doppel reihig = double ray  ;D
Title: Re: "Double Ray" Any meaning behind the name?
Post by: Kautilya on October 15, 2011, 05:07:33 PM
double ray - double row?  introduced at a time when single rows were still popular.
george

Very likely.... zwei reihig = 2 row

  or

Most likely doppel reihig = double ray  ;D
This is also said to be attributed to a trio of players who turned green after an all night session on super strong ale which increased their night-time playing and endurance powers dramatically (there was such a session at ECMW Brightlingsea involving a certain melodeon fixer who, intrestingly, has the same initial as "The M" below).

Two of them went on to develop the power to kill  any concertrina player by ray - hence the double ray. You will notice that the evil figure at the heart of all this is constantly trying to conquer the Sola (tee do etc) System, so the key to the death ray instrument's power is important but (for a large fee) can be retro-fitted by replacing selected reeds.
The prison mentioned below is surely that of Chelmsford on the road to Brightlingsea via other small hamlets.


"ALL TREENS MUST DIE!"
Vol. 15, No. 23 to Vol. 15, No. 42.

The Mekon escapes from his high-security prison, and in the space-clipper "Magenta" he heads for Venus where he causes much mischief using a ray that makes the Treens commit suicide. The Mekon is once more trying to conquer the Solar System, and this time he enlists the help of a mysterious group known as the "Last Three". Dan and Digby follow and the Last Three are all eventually destroyed, the final one by The Mekon himself who thinks he has been betrayed by them. The Mekon appears to fall to his death in the final battle.
(with thanks to dandare.org.uk)
(The Magenta space ship is in fact a diatonic button  accordion:
http://runescape.wikia.com/wiki/The_Magenta_Accordion

If you see someone looking like this then you should report them immediately to the moderator.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlpQkagdH4s
Title: Re: "Double Ray" Any meaning behind the name?
Post by: The Blues Viking on October 15, 2011, 10:47:49 PM
Two of them went on to develop the power to kill  any concertrina player by ray - hence the double ray. You will notice that the evil figure at the heart of all this is constantly trying to conquer the Sola (tee do etc) System, so the key to the death ray instrument's power is important but (for a large fee) can be retro-fitted by replacing selected reeds.

Does this explain the swastika on my Double Ray?

TBV
Title: Re: "Double Ray" Any meaning behind the name?
Post by: tedrick on October 15, 2011, 11:47:02 PM
the deadly double ray is emitted from the two voices of this model melodeon -
(double ray deluxe is simply a double ray plus one more voice - making it even more deadly)
Title: Re: "Double Ray" Any meaning behind the name?
Post by: Kautilya on October 16, 2011, 12:58:11 AM
Two of them went on to develop the power to kill  any concertrina player by ray - hence the double ray. You will notice that the evil figure at the heart of all this is constantly trying to conquer the Sola (tee do etc) System, so the key to the death ray instrument's power is important but (for a large fee) can be retro-fitted by replacing selected reeds.

Does this explain the swastika on my Double Ray?

TBV

Could be (tho cant see on ebay ones!) but assume u are referring to rays in the final scene in Raider's of the Lost Ark.

Whereas the one wrapped in brown paper, wot swings from bell rope to bell rope (the lunchpack of Notre Dame) will tell you that the origin of the  above mentioned is linked to his anguished cry (as per Charles Laughton)of: 'The bells! The bells! which is an oblique reference to the music associated with Mount Kailash, the sacred unclimbed mountain in the Himalayas  which is often considered to be the origin of the symbol - :

"The Jains who refer to Kailash as Mount Ashtapada believe the founder of their faith, Rishabanatha, resides atop the mountain. And the Böns [or Bönpos], the religion which predates Buddhism in Tibet, maintain that the entire mystical region and the Nine-Story Swastika Mountain is the seat of all power. When viewed from the south face, a swastika can be seen."
http://www.essortment.com/mount-kailash-holy-mountain-61653.html

You will recall it is from the Sanskrit word स्वस्तिक , which can mean auspicious, lucky, wellbeing, in tune/harmony with the cosmos or, naturally, संगीत सत्र (the musical session).

As for the Kailash bells and symbol:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZg_M7nU2YM

and
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=mount+kailash+music&docid=1081865143635&mid=42B2752C24493F91558342B2752C24493F915583&FORM=VIRE1
Title: Re: "Double Ray" Any meaning behind the name?
Post by: Martyn on October 16, 2011, 01:44:27 AM
 ??? ??? ???

M.
Title: Re: "Double Ray" Any meaning behind the name?
Post by: ACE on October 16, 2011, 07:15:53 AM
The bells, the bells is often misquoted. It should have been to 'To Bells, to Bells' as he mounted the bus to Surbiton. ;)
Title: Re: "Double Ray" Any meaning behind the name?
Post by: Kautilya on October 16, 2011, 02:38:00 PM
??? ??? ???

M.
So you are awake! ;) ;)
Title: Re: "Double Ray" Any meaning behind the name?
Post by: sandwich on October 16, 2011, 10:54:44 PM
I'm hoping this thread can replace the "what's the difference between a melodion and accordion" thread. Bit of a shame to see that thread locked. I was amazed that a discussion on accordion terminology ended up as an Israeli-Palestinian political debate. ;)

I'd say it was named after a guy called Ray who worked for Hohner.
Title: Re: "Double Ray" Any meaning behind the name?
Post by: MandoC on October 17, 2011, 06:29:20 PM
Sandwich:  Actually it was named after two guys named Ray who worked for Hohner.  Charlie
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