kirbyguy
New member
And I bought it.
I'm happy to announce I just bought this Bison today. 1/5/13
I'm happy to announce I just bought this Bison today. 1/5/13
Some Rare Vintage Vacuums for Sale! - Bison and Lux Upright
- Thread starter compactelectra
- Start date
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kirbyguy
New member
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.
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
Well-known member
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.
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
New member
Your Royal upright
Hey Fred,
Let me know if and when you want to sell the Royal upright.
Hey Fred,
Let me know if and when you want to sell the Royal upright.
vacuser
Well-known member
bison
do you have an old green bison or know someone who does for cheap ?
do you have an old green bison or know someone who does for cheap ?
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!
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!
vacuser
Well-known member
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 ??
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
Well-known member
let me guess, leisure lady 65?
bvac6
Well-known member
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
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
Well-known member
(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.
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.
vacuser
Well-known member
bison damaged
i believe it was a guy who sold it to me. said he was getting married & using the money for his wedding.he said he had it professionally packed but when i opened it, it was anything but. thin foam sheets & a bath towel & a thin cardboard box between the housing & attachments. i do believe the handeling was to blame but the lack of packing material speaks volumes. i received one broken vac from leisure lady. the back wheel axle was snapped in half.she took care of it for me through the shipper no problem. i still have it also. once again i blame the handeling on it. most people don't take into account how the boxes get slammed around. i was a shipping clerk at one time myself so i know what they go through. super packing is the only way to be sure they arrive undamaged.
i believe it was a guy who sold it to me. said he was getting married & using the money for his wedding.he said he had it professionally packed but when i opened it, it was anything but. thin foam sheets & a bath towel & a thin cardboard box between the housing & attachments. i do believe the handeling was to blame but the lack of packing material speaks volumes. i received one broken vac from leisure lady. the back wheel axle was snapped in half.she took care of it for me through the shipper no problem. i still have it also. once again i blame the handeling on it. most people don't take into account how the boxes get slammed around. i was a shipping clerk at one time myself so i know what they go through. super packing is the only way to be sure they arrive undamaged.
pr-21
Well-known member
UPS is the worst. Several years back, I had a Kirby g5 rebuilt and shipped to me from Kirby. It was well packed, but the box was split open when I got home from work. I opened it up and one of the sprockets holding the back wheel popped off, along with the wheel cover. I have had machines rebuilt by Kirby before and they do not come back like that. I did call Kirby and they wanted me to send it back, but I opted for them to just send me a new wheel with the sproket to hold it on, which they did. I always try to get my machines shipped by Fed Ex for that very reason.
PR-21
PR-21
bvac6
Well-known member
UPS
I agree pr-21, UPS handles the packages about as well as trained monkeys. They pack just as bad. I have had UPS break two vacs I bought on Ebay. One was a Singer commercial twin fan that they apparently dropped on on end, bending the handle down to the point that the sides of the aluminum split open. Then a Hoover 300 got slammed around so the aluminum on the bag flange cracked. Very poor and rough handling!
I agree pr-21, UPS handles the packages about as well as trained monkeys. They pack just as bad. I have had UPS break two vacs I bought on Ebay. One was a Singer commercial twin fan that they apparently dropped on on end, bending the handle down to the point that the sides of the aluminum split open. Then a Hoover 300 got slammed around so the aluminum on the bag flange cracked. Very poor and rough handling!
Been there.........
This beautiful self propelled Kenmore showed up on my doorstep in pieces. Since it was discontinued there was no way to restore it. There are not many donor machines floating around for vintage Kenmore vacuums!
This beautiful self propelled Kenmore showed up on my doorstep in pieces. Since it was discontinued there was no way to restore it. There are not many donor machines floating around for vintage Kenmore vacuums!
