Some Rare Vintage Vacuums for Sale! - Bison and Lux Upright

[compactelectra]

I am sure Fred will forgive me for announcing like this, but I am putting up some fairly rare machines for auction.  I have to thin the herd and decided that I would do some of the more rare machines during Thanksgiving week. First up.  A literally brand-new Bison with the box and attachments.  Tania and I found this machine up at a vacuum store in Wisconsin brand new in the box.  It has been out on display but only run a few times.  It was the theme vacuum for the Great Bison round-up Vacuum Cleaner Collectors club convention.  Out she goes!



http://www.ebay.com/itm/230883273924?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

 

[super-sweeper]

If i may,

How much are you asking for the byson?

 

[kirbykid]

so your hooverconstelation... im 18346572

 

[compactelectra]

Alex

Click on the link to the Ebay auction above. 

 

[kirbyultimateg]

I think Karl Wierman aka OpelGTKarl would be interested in your Bison.

 

[floor-a-matic]

Did Scott & Fetzer (Kirby) make Bisons or is Bison a different company?

 

[caligula]

Brief history of Bison.

The story I heard was that a few engineers at Kirby got together and decided to build a better mouse trap, thus they came up with the Bison.

As I understand it, the design was not good, and it didn't sell very well. Since I have only seen one bison, I can't tell how good (or bad) it is. All I know is that every vacuum cleaner shop I went into as a kid wouldn't talk about the Bison.

While Kirby had several great machines, there were a few bad apples. The only one that comes to mind was the Aire Rotter. The only canister made by Scott and Fetzer. It was so bad that Carl S. Fetzer fired the engineers who designed it. Jim Kirby also published a public appology, and the machine was scrapped. As far as I know the Aire Rotter was introduced in the 1920's.

More info on Kirby when I can go through my Kirby patent books which are in back in Indiana.

Alex Taber

 

[tolivac]

If there are no takers for the Bison-I would be interested.

 

[kirbykid]

i kind of want it

 

[kirbykid]

how much do you want for the bison???

 

[kenkart]

Bison...

The Bison did not hold up well, but was tremendously more powerful than the Kirbys of the same age, they used a G.E. motor with a variable speed motor.They really will lift the carpet off the floor.

 

[chan55]

Bison

I had a cousin who farmed and they traded a cow for a Bison, HAHA True story!
It did not work well at all. Should have kept the cow. At least it provided milk!

 

[electroluxxxx]

Hans

I have never seen one of these before in person but only on this site in picture... I am curious as to how powerful they are while in tool mode and if they are quiet and heavy.

 

[vac_whisperer]

@robert

I thought how the story went was a guy who worked for Kirby quit and invented the Bison, as the story goes. Let me google it to make sure...

 

[bisonian]

Bison

The Bison was built in Ocala, Florida in the 70s and early 80s. Heavy, bulky and not well-built, they are powerful, yes, but definitely are NOT quiet. They have a rheostat speed control and the very noisy GE motor ramps up like a jet taking off when you crank up the control. Closer to "deafening" than "quiet."

Trivia -- the Ocala building in which they were built is now the welcome center for the E-One fire truck factory.

 

[rugsucker]

trading farm animals

Just saw reply 11.I had a customer from a farm area bring in a Filter Queen for routine service who told of trading a horse for it.They saw the FQ salesman later and found out the horse died 2 weeks after trading.It was a few years ago when I serviced it and it was 20 plus years then and working well.

 

[rugsucker]

trading farm animals

Just saw reply 11.I had a customer from a farm area bring in a Filter Queen for routine service who told of trading a horse for it.They saw the FQ salesman later and found out the horse died 2 weeks after trading.It was a few years ago when I serviced it and it was 20 plus years then and working well.

 

[vacuumman206]

The Bison is definitely bad-ass looking, if not anything else. I remember watching a video of one running and I absolutely loved the jet engine wind-up sound, even if it is loud. I also was under the impression they are older than they actually are.

 

[tolivac]

Is the Bison vacuum still up for sale?Would love to have one.

 

[kirbyguy]

And I bought it.

I'm happy to announce I just bought this Bison today. 1/5/13

 

[kirbyguy]

It's powerful and very loud

Now that I've had the Bison home for a few hours & actually did a little vacuuming with it. I can understand why these Bisons (a wanabe Kirby) didn't quite have the high volume sales its CEO/inventor had hoped for.

Powerful it is. However, the machine weighs a ton and is difficult to manouver
on thick padded plush pile carpeting. First time I've ever worked up a sweat vacuuming.

I did install a new belt(a Kirby belt fit just fine) and that unto itself was quite the task. Had to remove 4 screws from the brush roll guard plate, then pull the plate, pull the brush roll out, place the new belt on the brush roll. Then reattach the guard plate with its 4 screws,then stretch the belt over the belt shaft. Unlike most uprights the Bison has direct drive. It has a drive shaft that inserts into a gear located in the nozzle and this gear then turns and rotates the belt and brush roll gear(s). Not your typical easy belt replacement for the normal housewife I must say.

All in all its a very unique powerful machine. A vacuum that one should really just admire as opposed to actually vacuuming with it.

 

[compactelectra]

What did I tell you?

When I bought that machine brand new in Wisconsin - I couldn't wait to get home and try it.  Yikes! - what a beast.  I ran it for a bit and put it on display.  That's why it is still like brand new. 

 

[kirbyguy]

Your Royal upright

Hey Fred,

Let me know if and when you want to sell the Royal upright.

 

[kirbyuser]

bison

do you have an old green bison or know someone who does for cheap ?

 

[kenkart]

Some Bison history..

Clay Floyd was once a bison dealer in Denver Colorado, he said he went to Florida to a sales meeting, where the company president locked them all in a room and preached a hell fire and brimstone Baptist sermon and concluded with.." I had better never hear of my vacuums being solt to black people or in trailer parks!", Clay said everyone sat there stunned with their mouth's open! Im sure this kind of thing did not help their reputation any, it wasnt too many years until they were gone from the scene..no wonder!

 

[kirbyuser]

green bison neve used

i bought one for a lot of money & when i got it the plastic case was broken. i got refunded after the seller refused contact. i could possibly fix it but it would take some plastic art work to do so & would not look too good. WHAT TO DO ??? i love this machine because there aren't many out there & i waited so long to find one. but alas the vacuum gods did not look down on me in a good manner this time. i'm torn on how to proceed.i am fairly mechanical but this would be a first to try to save this one. the case holds the front axle & wheels in place & it must be able to be fastened to the inside workings to do so. ??????????? OMG WHY ME ??

 

[bnsd60m9200]

let me guess, leisure lady 65?

 

[bvac6]

Bison

What a shame! I have bought several machines from LeisureLady65 with very few issues. A couple machines have been damaged slightly but that was totally the fault of the shipping service. I've always had great communication with her. Have faith, patience and steel epoxy can do absolute wonders. Even if it doesn't look pretty that machine is worth it. I love Bisons and I wish I had one

 

[rugsucker]

(damage from) "leisurelady65" ?? NO!!!

IF this is the green Bison I had 'new in box' (seems likely) I can update its recent history.I received it from a collector who found it at a former Bison dealers store.Later I listed on EBay(never removed from box) and it did not sell at that time. Later it went to a collector in the upper mid west(Ill. ?) with no problems.He later showed it removed from box in new condition.I had heard he was moving and might wish to sell.If this is my former Bison it is a shame and tragedy that it is now damaged.
On leisurelady65 and shipping--Vacs and larger items are packed by the (hopefully) professionals at UPS,insured by UPS and MOST of the time delivered with NO problem by UPS.One of our worst problems was a rare green glass ceiling fixture that arrived broken.It,and to my knowledge,all of the few other problems have been resolved to the buyers satisfaction.
On Bison--I do have a very few more parts and 1 or 2 Bisons (may not be 100% complete) that I am trying to find to sell.