Saturday, August 8, 2015

"Chicago Ray" Schlee

I recently received an interesting inquiry from an old post mentioning "Chicago" Ray Schlee. Nicole Albold asked the following:

Can you tell me where "Chicago Ray's" shop was? I believe my father restored and painted Harleys with him when I was just a tot. 
 
Unfortunately I don't know. I did some Internet research which was mostly fruitless. I did however stumble across an acknowledgement to Chicago Ray in the book Classic Harley Big Twins - Knucklehead, Panhead, Shovelhead.



To my knowledge I've never met the author but I thought it was cool that several Washington natives also contributed to the book. Tom Samuelson is front-and-center at nearly everything motorcycle history related in the area and I've mentioned the legacy of Carmen Tom here on several occasions. No answer to Nicole's question unfortunately. I'll ask around though.

I did find a post in which Irish Rich mentioned being friends with Chicago Ray. I sent him an email to see if he could help.

If anyone else seeing this can answer Nicole's question I'd love to hear from you.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Chicago rays shop was in Burbank il on 87 th street just off of central.

Anthony schlee said...

Witch way off of central? is the building still there I would love to see it if it is.

Unknown said...

I use to hang out with Ray's kid. Chicago Ray's shop was on the NE corner of 87 & massasoit in burbank,il

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