Name/Title
Incline weight benchEntry/Object ID
L2021.3.001Description
Fixed angle incline weight bench handmade by James Lee, early-mid 1950s.Context
According to Bruce Lee's wife Linda Lee, James Lee (not related) made the bench for Allen Joe. The bench was passed down to lender Bob Gomez by Allen Joe's family.
Allen Joe was the first Chinese American Mr. Northern California Body Building Champion, light weight division in 1946.
Allen Joe and James Lee were good friends. When James Lee heard about Bruce Lee, a kid who teaches Cha Cha and is an amazing Gung Fu man, he went to Seattle, WA to meet Bruce Lee; the meeting took place at the Ruby Chow restaurant, and they became good friends. Allen Joe gave Bruce Lee his first set of weights. Bruce Lee had many friends but three were trusted friends, George Lee, Allen Joe, and James Yimm Lee. They called themselves the four musketeers.Dimensions
Height
37-1/2 inWidth
13-3/4 inDepth
38-3/4 inIntake
Loan In
L2021.3Lender
Bob Gomez