Bison on Ebay

[eurekastar]

I don't know anything about Bison Vacuums, so I'm not sure if this goes here or in another forum. But I noticed this on Ebay and just wondering if it has a bojack bag on it. I vaguely recall that Bison was started by a former Kirby employee. I'm not even sure if that's correct. Whenever I've seen them on Ebay, I didn't pay much attention to them so that's why I'm wondering about the bag. Did it originally come with an Emtor setup similar to Kirby?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Bison-V...978?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c18ffaf1a

 

[ohio_tuec]

Indeed it did, and that bag IS bojack! Bison never made a machine which used disposeable bags. When the Bison factory closed in 1983, Kirby had only started using paper bags 4 years prior. Bison's "sani emtor" emptied from the side, whereas Kirby's from the bottom. Everything about the machine was modified just enough to avoid patent infringement. Some things about the Bison were made very well, other things VERY flimsy.

- Karl

 

[ohio_tuec]

Isn't that either Jeff Parker or Tom Anderson selling the machine?

 

[electrolux~137]

This Bison, which is missing its "Sani-Emptor" and which has an ugly bojack replacement bag ....... went for $515.00 plus $82.00 shipping.

WOW.

 

[akabent]

Recent Bison Transaction

Actually, the shipping was far less than that based on its actual destination but was generously waived due to its solid sales price.
RB

 

[electrolux~137]

Well, not having any "inside information" on this, I was just going by the auction listing. Hope whoever got it enjoys it! It's a bizarre and kludgy machine, heavy and hard to maneuver around and noisy as hell. Fun to play with, but I couldn't imagine anyone actually using this roaring beast as a daily driver.

 

[akabent]

Driving Bison?

Like most of us, I am thinking/assuming this is going to a collector. However, the well-matched and upgraded bag, allowing for F&G-style throw-away bags would make it more user-friendly if it were in fact purchased to drive. I can't imagine anyone dealing with a Sani-Emptor (S/B more like 'Caveat Emptor' but the designer probably sadly realized that phrase was already taken) or whatever Bison entitled their rendition of that bizarre hatch-door contraption. I sincerely hope this lucky individual enjoys this unique machine. Gratefully, it was rescued!
RB