NEW green Bison
Kirbyguy,It seems you have many questions on the condition of my green Bison,accuracy of description,my choice of listing on EBay,using a consignor,setting a starting price and more.First-"I stand by every word of this or other descriptions."As well as the pictures that are said to be worth a thousand words each.In general-Why EBay?-Love it or hate it the fact that you and others have seen my Bison and more proves it can match a potential buyer with a sellers item.Why a consignor?-This allows me to find an item(such as the 7 from last week,the 20 for this week and the 9+ for next week)and find parts,clean and service(if needed),write a simple,accurate and hopefully knowlegable description on items from vac parts to Chrysler cleaning products,help with pictures and then have the consignor(leisurelady65 in this case)handle listing,payment,address,packing and shipping as we did dozens of times last year for many buyers who I believe are satisfied with description,condition and price of items from vacs to fans to books to irons and more that have gone to
FL,TX,CA,OH,PA and many other places including Spain.Was that a Kerouac sentence?Why starting bids?-Whether a new Bison in the box that I start for $499 or a Westighouse crevice tool that I feel is worth $3.99 I try to have a reasonable figure when matched with the condition and rarity of an item.Anyone may bid or not depending on their point of view.If someone found a new Bison at a yard sale for $5 they may feel $20 is way to much.If you bought a new Kirby(or other quality vac that is available by the truck load) you may feel that $500 is way to low.As to my 505 bag I know from actual completed sales that the few good or better bags can bring more than my starting bid.Again,bid or not as you choose.Back to my green Bison-To have a Perry Mason moment-"I confess!I was not in FL on 2-19-75.I did not myself see someone whose identity I confirmed to be Alice Webb place the Bison in its box."Now I can be led in handcuffs from the courtroom as Raymond Burr smokes a post trial cigarette or I can add more of the simple facts that make the provanance of this Bison.-It left the factory in FL with one of the 5 pieces of literature stating that Alice webb verified all parts being present in box and having a date stamp of 2-19-75.-It was sent to a dealer in the northwest.-It was found and aquired in new,unused condition by advanced collector from the northeast(very knowlagable but not as well known as a certain Hoover collector)-It was brought to my then recently purchased vac store building about 1993 and I aquired the Bison by trading other vintage vacs and parts.It has remained upstairs,unused and not removed from box until-It is now and was last year listed on EBay(as many of my other vacs have been and will be)in the same new,unused condition.-Why never removed from box?-I already knew,from earlier days of VCCC,what a Bison looked like.I then found a used Bison.Do you dought this?If so,visit my warehouse and we may find or put together 2 1/2 Bisons in fair to average condition.Also as it became a collector item I suppose I look at it as a doll collector may look at a Barbie sealed in the box.(That is,let the collector and next owner decide when to use).I welcome anyone to view the pictures in the description.Note-The spot at edge of headlight cover is not defect or damage,but my reflection from 4 feet away as the metal has a mirror shine.Looks like I need to trim my beard.I have not seen any damage on the Bison,nor have I examined it for hours with a magnifying glass as I am currently working on Eureka Freedom,2 Hoover Spectrums,Dirt Devil Kone and a rotary phone with an early built in Phone-Mate answering machine for next weeks EBay.I will be glad to answer questions or provide more pictures.However,I am 35 miles away from consignor and usually visit weekly(driving by the former Electrolux factory on the way).--I thank everyone for their interest and attention to this rare vac.--Sincerely,Jimmy'I am not a liar'Martin-Vac Shop-520 East E Street-Elizabethton,TN 37643--423-297-6918