Thank you CompactElectra
I've never seen the brown. I love the powder-coat done in the hammertone finish.
This one is green, tho looks tan with all the dust. (LOL)
When I was little, growing up in Corpus Christi, the neighborhood vac store was next door to my mother's favorite fabric store. The old couple who owned it would let me come in and look around IF they were in a good mood. They had one of those "buzzer locks" on the door (they probably needed it for me). Most older folks thought I was just "preshus" for having a vacuum cleaner fixation. These two would arbitrarily let me in if they were bored. There, in the corner of there shop, was the mythical avocado-green Bison. Week after week, month after month, when I got buzzed in the door, I'd make a bee-line for that thing. They always cut me off at the pass saying "son don't touch that! It's a repair and the owner is coming to pick it up". A few decades later (when I finished college), I returned to Corpus Christi to help with clearing my grandparents' house/contents after they both died. I saw that the old vac shop was still there. I went in to look around. The current owner (looked to be near my age) had a decent assortment of brands. We chatted and I mentioned to him how I was the luckiest 8 year-old in Corpus Christi when the old folks decided to "buzz me in" through the door" Anyway, those were his grandparents. He thought it was rather amusing. When I told him about the Bison, he got very still. I then learned that the Bison was a machine that became a thorn in Grandpa's side. He explained to me that his grandfather lost money on the machine because he couldn't repair it properly. He said that this machine was responsible for him learning profanity from his grandfather. This I wouldn't doubt, because the problem of the stripped gear-head that attaches to the motor shaft is supposed to be legendary. To end a sad story, this Bison is long gone because the original shop owner(s) becames frustrated trying to obtain parts. I've also heard that their poor distribution network for parts was also legendary. Anyway, I do love the oddball machines. So I may be growing a few extra heirloom tomatoes this spring......
I do love good barter. I think it's a good testament of how much someone likes you, especially if what they want from you seems so simple and minuscule compared to what you want from them.
