Question about Bison

[dirtfinder1]

How much is Bison worth? I found a guy who has a green one just the machine itself nothing else and he told me to make him an offer. He is in the vacuum business so he knows what they are hard to come by. I was thinking $150-$200? Too low?

 

[brandon_w_t]

Sounds right

These are very very rare. Depending on what year it was built.

Does it look like a Kirby, or like the early hoovers?

THEY WERE MADE IN OMAHA! I am from omaha.

 

[dirtfinder1]

It is a Mark III I belive but I am not sure....

I will try to find out more..........I just don't want to seem too excited or the game is up! I guess he knows some people on here and we all know some vacuum collectors are like Piranha.........and if they smell a Bison it will be like chum in the water! Last thing I need is to get in a bidding war........

 

[bisonian]

Ocala, NOT Omaha

Brandon, no offense, but the Bisons were made here in Ocala, Florida, not Omaha. There should be a metal tag on the machine that says Ocala, and the owner's manual at one point had a picture of the plant facing Interstate 75.

The former plant site is about three miles from my home. It's currently the visitor center and executive offices for E-One fire trucks.

 

[luxg]

Rick I was pretty sure myself that they were made down here in Florida. They are one strange machine that is for sure.

 

[bisonian]

I have a little fun with my Mark II every once in a while. I'll start it on low in the garage (with the door open, of course). Then I gradually turn up the speed, and the whine increases like a jet revving for takeoff, until the motor's screaming at full speed. Makes the neighbors wonder what's gonna come flying out of the garage.

 

[kirbykid63]

What years were they produced

were they made during the 70's.

 

[ohio_tuec]

Actually, they were made up until 1983. I have one of the last Centurions produced. They're definitely fun to own, but you can understand why the company went out of business. Some parts of the machine really were inferior quality. I wouldn't know what to if the plastic pulley that drives the brushroll broke....

 

[brandon_w_t]

???

Hmm... Some one told me they were made in Omaha.

 

[compactelectra]

Here is the cover of the owners manual

I found a Centurion new in the box. What a beast!

 

[dirtfinder1]

So what should I offer the guy?

Anyone have a good price range that I should offer? I don't want to lowball him and have him get mad.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[bisonian]

Negotiate

I got my Centurion from a vac shop in Daytona Beach a couple of years ago for $85. He was asking $150, and when I asked him if he'd come down, we agreed on $85. It was sitting in the window of the shop with a tag marked $250 on it.

Sure, it's rare, but it's gonna be a pretty limited market. You'll have some wiggle room.