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Thread Number: 31106
/ Tag: 50s/60s/70s Vacuum Cleaners
bison vacuum |
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| Post# 343749 , Reply# 1 2/12/2016 at 22:59 (2,989 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
Bison:
Hi jill1990:
The Bison was made in Ocala, Florida, and was indeed a spin-off of the Kirby, though I only know that it was designed by a group of Kirby salesmen disatisfied with the company who decided to build a better mousetrap. (And the Bison wasn't it!) I've only seen and used one, and that was at one of the conventions of the Vacuum Cleaner Collector's Club. Personally, I was not fond of it, and for me it was indeed heavy and akward, but I'm no judge of the machine good, bad, or otherwise. I'll say this, I don't want one! As for still being made? no Bison went out of business many years ago, in the late 1970's I believe, though it could have been in th 60's, again, I'm not sure, but in my opinion it was a beast! Alex Taber. | ||
Post# 343750 , Reply# 2 2/12/2016 at 23:20 (2,989 days old) by KirbyClassicIII  (Milwaukie, Oregon) |
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caligula | ||
| Post# 343752 , Reply# 3 2/12/2016 at 23:30 (2,989 days old) by blknblu (CT) | ||
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Bison history, came across this ..
View Full Size
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| Post# 343758 , Reply# 4 2/13/2016 at 01:05 (2,989 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Thanks Ben and blknblu:
My username Caligula, is in tribute of a pet cat, and he was the mascot for the V.C.C.C. when my home in Naperville, Illinois was our official headquarters.
As for the Bison, thanks for sharing. As Father Flanagin founder of 'Boy's Town' once said "there's no such thing as a bad boy," well I say "there's no such thing as a bad vacuum cleaner!" This isn't to say I don't have my likes and didlikes, and of the latter, Bison heads the list. As I said to jill1990, I'm not one to judge as I never tested one, only gave it a quick spin around the convention room. Yes I do have an instruction book, and frankly I'm not impressed, but am eager to learn about the history. And as A dyed in the wool Kirby man, that's where my loyalty stands. Here's Caligula. 
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| Post# 343759 , Reply# 5 2/13/2016 at 01:14 (2,989 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Ben, | ||
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Post# 343760 , Reply# 6 2/13/2016 at 03:27 (2,989 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC) |
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The Ocla factory building where the Bison vacuums were built is now home to "E-One" emergency vehicles-fire trucks and ambulances. | ||
| Post# 343813 , Reply# 7 2/13/2016 at 08:22 (2,988 days old) by Oreck_XL (Brooklyn, New York 11211) | ||
Bisons were produced up until 1983. I have a Centurion model with a cracked motor housing handle. At best I can say it was an awkward machine. It's a shame they incorporated so much plastic into the design. If they were supposed to be as long-lasting as Kirbys, they definitely missed the boat. A lot of them have issues with cracked casings which is why so few of them survive today.
- Hershel | ||
| Post# 344291 , Reply# 9 2/16/2016 at 17:04 (2,985 days old) by bisonian (Where the buffalo roamed! (Ocala, FL)) | ||
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P.S. Ocala Mayor Bill Swigert later became a highly respected Circuit Judge. | ||
| Post# 462370 , Reply# 10 4/17/2023 at 12:14 (368 days old) by Nova_Candy (New Jersey) | ||
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| Post# 462373 , Reply# 11 4/17/2023 at 15:59 (368 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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| Post# 462376 , Reply# 12 4/17/2023 at 17:22 (368 days old) by Nova_Candy (New Jersey) | ||
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