  We present low and high resolution long-slit spectra of three bipolar
planetary nebulae (PNe) with bright central cores: A79, He2-428 and M1-91.
He2-428 and M1-91 have high density (from 10^3.3 to 10^6.5 cm^-3) unresolved
nebular cores that indicate that strong mass loss/exchange phenomena are
occurring close to their central stars. An F0 star is found at the centre of
symmetry of A79; its reddening and distance are consistent with the association
of the star with the nebula. The spectrum of the core of He2-428 shows
indications of the presence of a hot star with red excess emission, probably
arising in a late-type companion. A79 is one of the richest PNe in N and He,
the abundances of M1-91 are at the lower end of the range spanned by bipolar
PNe, and He2-428 shows very low abundances, similar to those measured for halo
PNe. The extended nebulae of A79 and He2-428 have inclined equatorial rings
expanding at a velocity of approx. 15 km/s, with kinematical ages 10^4 yr. The
association of these aged, extended nebulae with a dense nebular core (He2-428)
or a relatively late type star (A79) is interpreted as evidence for the
binarity of their nuclei.
