Beware: BOB-CAT is not Bobcat

[Maka]

Based upon my personal, first-hand experience with both the Bobcat and the Bob-Cat machines, I would have to make the caveat:

BEWARE: Bobcat is NOT Bob-Cat!

The Bobcat 743 was a gutless wonder that stalled out if the rpms dropped the least bit. You could literally kill the engine by doing a quick zero turn. Local dealer service was a joke: rude, arrogant, I-will-fix-no-machine-before-its-time SOBs.

The 20+ year old Ransomes Bob-Cat, after a repower 5 years ago, is still tooling along just fine. No complaints whatsoever.

Great point of view from someone who actually has used both.

Maka

 

[dbear]

Great point of view from someone who actually has used both.

Maka

Thanks.

Although, I'd have to admit it would be pretty hard to move dirt with my Bob-Cat.. LOL

 

[Maka]

Yip, but maybe not much more difficult than the 743 if it was that gutless.

Maka

 

[dbear]

Yip, but maybe not much more difficult than the 743 if it was that gutless.

Maka

What was really disappointing to me about it was that it was a Kubota engine. This unit was only about a year old with less than 200 hours of seasonal use on it at the time I became the primary operator (local landscaping company), and had always been maintained according to manufacturer schedules and recommendations.

Even tho I felt it to be a little underpowered, the engine never give us any mechanical troubles, so I guess in that respect, the lil 'bota lived up to its reputation.

 

[ncpowertower]

You don't know!! Bobcat Ransomes mowers and Bobcat equipment are owned by Ransomes. If you look at any bobcat equipment you will see that bobcat is printed like this BOB-CAT. Ransomes ownes the bobcat name that is why you can't find any trademark infringement litigation. Bobcat only makes commercial mowers. it will last for a long time because it is built in the same factory the bobcat equipment is.
PS: I was like you years ago when I got a used BOB-CAT RANSOMES mower. That is when I searched it out to find that both are owned by the Ransomes Corp.

 

[SSdoxie]

You don't know!! Bobcat Ransomes mowers and Bobcat equipment are owned by Ransomes. If you look at any bobcat equipment you will see that bobcat is printed like this BOB-CAT. Ransomes ownes the bobcat name that is why you can't find any trademark infringement litigation. Bobcat only makes commercial mowers. it will last for a long time because it is built in the same factory the bobcat equipment is.
PS: I was like you years ago when I got a used BOB-CAT RANSOMES mower. That is when I searched it out to find that both are owned by the Ransomes Corp.

Bobcat construction equipment built by Bobcat Company is not and never has been with Ransome who made the BOB-CAT mower.
Bobcat equipment started out started out built by Melroe Mfg. company in the '60s. Sometime in the '70s Melroe Mfg. was purchased by Clark Eq.. Co. but left the manufacture's name as Melroe Company. In early '90s Clark Eq. was bought by Ingersol-Rand. They changed the manufacture's name to Bobcat Company. In 2007 Bobcat Company was purchased by Doosan. Reason there is no litigation history regarding the name is no one can register this name, it is the name of an animal. But the way the name is spelled can and is registered. That's why there is the BOB-CAT & the Bobcat.

 

[drag_slick]

Bobcat construction equipment built by Bobcat Company is not and never has been with Ransome who made the BOB-CAT mower.
Bobcat equipment started out started out built by Melroe Mfg. company in the '60s. Sometime in the '70s Melroe Mfg. was purchased by Clark Eq.. Co. but left the manufacture's name as Melroe Company. In early '90s Clark Eq. was bought by Ingersol-Rand. They changed the manufacture's name to Bobcat Company. In 2007 Bobcat Company was purchased by Doosan. Reason there is no litigation history regarding the name is no one can register this name, it is the name of an animal. But the way the name is spelled can and is registered. That's why there is the BOB-CAT & the Bobcat.

IR got Clark by hostile takeover in the mid-90's to get Bobcat and ClubCar. Name was adjusted to Melroe - Ingersoll Rand then to Bobcat Company a few years later with slight variations and taglines until the Doosan purchase.

But yeah.. no relation between Bobcat and BOB-CAT. The only times things were branded different was at the end of IR's ownership when they decided to sell Bobcat attachments through IR sales channels, or rental chains, military, highway departments, who placed a large enough order and specified a different paint color.