Bison questions

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Cords.......

Notice that thew instructions ADVISE...... wrapping the cord in a figure of 8 pattern- not only is this one of my pet hates im sure ive also read on here it dosent do it any good???


Seamus
 
Well, Seamus...we all know (sadly) the Bison was clearly a flawed machine ;)

Of course I want one, it just looks so EVIL lol, wonder if they do them in gloss black with a red headlight lens..

Ian
 
Looks like..

Looks like a cross between a Kirby Classic and Tradition, hyped up on steroids and dressed for some action at the nearest 1970's disco or roller rink...
 
Bison

Thanks Fred for scanning the manual...very cool machine. Wish there were more around. I have yet to use one or hear one run, so I'm looking forward to hearing Clay's presentation as well. I can definitely see where they were trying to make improvements over the Kirby design, especially the foot-operated controls.

Were there any other models besides these two?
 
WOW!!learned more about the mysterious BISON!Has some features that could be interesting-like the variable speed.How many models were built?What areas were these machines marketed?NONE of the vac places here have heard about them.They asked ME about them.Was the fan made from lexan or metal?I would love to ad some Bisons to my collection-where are the best hunting grounds for them other than EBAY?--Or is it check your attics!! there may be a BISON there?they are striking looking machines-they look so much like the Kirby "G" series machines.I would like to learn more about these.Were any of the models made could use a paper bag-or were they all dump bag vacs?
 
It is to my understanding that a Bison IS a Kirby, as a guy once working for Kirby took the plans, redesigned it, kept most of the (probably) patented features, and built the Bison. Then, they went to far, or Kirby found out, or something like that, and Kirby sued them. That was when they went out of business. Is this right?

~~K~~
 
The jury is still out here.

I'll decide if really want this beast. after I turn it on. It could be in horrible shape...I'll be home next week and I'll have a chance to go back in her attic and drag the machine out. Right now I'm stuck in an ice storm in Ft. Worth. Hoping for an early thaw.
 
I brought the green Bison from a crazy person in Chicago. (Fred Nelson and Tania Voigt can attest to this---the crazy part that is!)

It was brand new in the box and this was about 3 years ago. It was complete with all the attachments and paperwork. Sort of like a time capsule.

We took it back to Milwaukee where Fred Stachnik and I assembled it and gave it a test drive along with some other folks. It was "so-so" in our thinking in terms of performance. You literally have to yell to talk to anyone in the same room. It only has two brush stips on the brush roll like the early big head Kirbys. The variable speed control is interesting but I not sure how useful. I'm almost positive there was only a shake out cloth bag and never a paper bag.

The belt is slightly different than a Kirby. It has sort of a lip or edge on one side making it unique to Bison. I'm not sure if you can use another type with them. Removing and reattaching the rug nozze is a very clumsy affair at best. It took us a while to figure it all out. Even using the height adjuster was...........well, let's just say it is not like using a Kirby!

I shipped it to my house and played with it here for a while. It was so loud that my poor cats were sick with nervous anxiety for days after I would use it. Although very kitschy and probably collectable as time passes, I decided to sell it to VCCC member Steve Keisler in Chicago. So it went back home to Chicago where it started out!

I think Clay will do a marvelous job explaining the machine, the company and it's history. This will be one of the first conventions where an "orphan" vacuum will be featured.

I'm glad Fred Nelson put the owner's manual on here as it shows and explains many things about the Bison that would be hard to describe.
 
Back in the early spring of 1974...

...I had noticed these beasts in the window of their dealership here in Memphis. It was next to the Levitz Furniture Store where some friends of mine had decided to purchase some furniture and asked me to take a look at it with them. I had not been to that part of town yet, having just arrived in Memphis in the fall of 1973.

When we pulled up to the furniture store I looked over at this vacuum shop and my eyes did a doubletake. What in the world???? Was this a Kirby...gone awry? I noticed the name Bison on the sign above this little shop. Never heard of it! Since I was with this couple and their kids I couldn't go wandering off to the vacuum shop, it would have been too rude. And when we came out of the Levitz, the Bison dealership was closed. So I drove back there in a few days by myself.

It wasn't the nicest part of town and I wasn't that comfortable there all by myself..being new to Memphis and all. But I parked there for a while and finally got out and looked in the window. They had this machine all decked out in its various configurations and it certainly looked like a wierd version of a Kirby to me. I wanted to go in, but didn't. What would I say? I was certainly not in any position to buy the thing and from the looks of the place...I suspected that I would have been talked into it or else. I had just finished my stint selling for Electrolux [did it all through college] I suspected some of the moves that would have been hoisted my way by these guys..and I wasn't up to it. So...I got in my car and drove away.

A little over a YEAR later.... I discovered that a neighbor had one. She was cleaning her car with the Bison on the carport. I told her I had sold Electrolux during 4 years of college and I asked her about the Bison...and yes it was a sale through DTD and a big sales pitch and she sort of liked it,"but it wasn't all they made it out to be," she said.

I didn't ask to use it or anything..even though I wanted to but it just seemed too awkward in every way. So I smiled and told her to take it easy...and not work too hard. That was the last time I saw a Bison till I saw one pictured on the various vac collectors web sites.

From my memory I can tell you that it was indeed VERY loud just as Charlie Watrous said [which was what got my attention in the first place that day and drug me outside to see what was going on]; but that's about all I remember about it other that it's general appearance and the fact that the attachment case also seemed to replicate a Kirby dead on. I always wondered what the relationship was between this machine and Kirby. Whatever it was, I knew there had to be some sort of relationship.
 
Sounds like the Bison outfit died from lawsuits from Kirby-unfreindly operation-difficult to remove or install attachments-and lastly-NOISEY!Guess the thing was as loud as a B-52 idling for takeoff?They sure were interesting looking machines!
 
I wouldn't have thought an outfit like the illustrious Scott and Fetzer company would like some young upstart challenging one of their more profitable divisions :P

I know I wouldn't..
 
Bison

I have the Bison Centurion the brown one brand new in the box with everything, I really like mine but don't use it too often as Parts are no longer available and I want to keep mine in tact too, I would love to add the Mark II to my collection down the road which is the green and silver one. I'm not to sure but I think the Guy in Milwaukee might still have one brown onew left in the box brand new. Tania could answer that

Skip...
 
fun fun

I live about 2 hours from Ocala (grew up there)... I should drive to the old headquarters address and take a picture of whatever's there now! What a fun machine... almost mean looking though!
 
Bison / Kirby DS-80

vacuumkid3, You always ask the best questions or make such good observations! Are you sure you're not a 40 year old midget? Anywho, when I was around your age we had the Bison people in our home for "THE BIG SELL". Ohhh, I did want one so bad!! Dad would'nt pay the $200.00 we got the salesman down to, smart man. We bought one two years later at a vac. shop for five dollars "the green-one" w/all the tools & buffer head. I put about three of the drive post things in it and then gave it to another cousin for a "wedding gift." Loved the Bison. Loved the cousin. Both were louder than hades!!! I'm sure you must be right about the Kirby questions too many similarities! Happy 2007, Russ P.S. Thanks for all the info. on your posts charles-richard!! Have a good New Year, Russ
 
Thanks Russ!! Well, although I look like a midget, I am only 14! HAHA! That was a good deal for the Bison, too! I really want to hear what one of them actually sounds like! Maybe compare it to a Kirby, too...

~~K~~
 
Hey bubbicain/John

So what is the verdict? I an anxiously awaiting what you did if you got it or not. Also in Arlington do you know Davidson's Realtor?
Email when you [email protected]

David
 

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