Pirelli Technort Stratos

Autodidactic player · Feb 6, 2016

I just picked up a very interesting Pirelli Technort Stratos. These are fairly hard to come by and significantly more "over engineered" than other rackets that can be taken apart - like the Jenro. Here are some pictures:

Does anyone have any other Pirelli models?

retrowagen · Feb 6, 2016

Such an interesting racquet concept... Originating from the automotive world! Pirelli, of course, being Italy's premier manufacturer of tires; Bertone, one of Italy's more prolific design studios/ automobile styling "houses" (and erstwhile coachbuilder of low-volume exotic cars, at times). The name, "Stratos," originated in fact with one of Bertone's finest car designs: the Lancia Stratos, a high-performance, mid-engined sports car fitted with a Ferrari engine: http://petrolicious.com/driven-by-design-the-incomparable-lancia-stratos
In fact, the Stratos typeography on the Technort is the same developed by Bertone and used on the Lancia. I wonder which Austrian manufacturer molded these: Kneissl, or Fischer? Or was it someone else?

rodracquet · Feb 6, 2016

Extremely rare and a lovely find. Nice to see more detailed photos as well.

Autodidactic player · Feb 6, 2016

retrowagen said:
Such an interesting racquet concept... Originating from the automotive world! Pirelli, of course, being Italy's premier manufacturer of tires; Bertone, one of Italy's more prolific design studios/ automobile styling "houses" (and erstwhile coachbuilder of low-volume exotic cars, at times). The name, "Stratos," originated in fact with one of Bertone's finest car designs: the Lancia Stratos, a high-performance, mid-engined sports car fitted with a Ferrari engine: http://petrolicious.com/driven-by-design-the-incomparable-lancia-stratos
In fact, the Stratos typeography on the Technort is the same developed by Bertone and used on the Lancia. I wonder which Austrian manufacturer molded these: Kneissl, or Fischer? Or was it someone else?

I've got one other Technort in my collection. It's called the "Horus" and is also Bertone design. It's got an interesting feature in that the butt cap is hollow in the center and goes about 8cm deep into the grip. I tried to show that in the first picture. I've never hit with either racket so I can't tell you whether or not the design is any good for actual play but they are both pretty interesting - especially the Stratos. Here are a few pictures of the Horus:

rodracquet · Feb 6, 2016

Autodidactic player said:
I've got one other Technort in my collection. It's called the "Horus" and is also Bertone design. It's got an interesting feature in that the butt cap is hollow in the center and goes about 8cm deep into the grip. I tried to show that in the first picture. I've never hit with either racket so I can't tell you whether or not the design is any good for actual play but they are both pretty interesting - especially the Stratos. Here are a few pictures of the Horus:

Also most unusual and grateful you have these since l know nothing about the Horus. Have you seen the Porsche tri shaft? Probably a promotional item but maybe it was designed by them.

Sanglier · Feb 6, 2016

Autodidactic player said:

You really know how to find them, David! If it wasn't for this close-up, I wouldn't have noticed that the Technort trademark contained both the word "Technology" and "Sport" superimposed on one another! The fact that your Horus doesn't say "Pirelli" anywhere would suggest that Technort was the brand, and Pirelli was only an endorsement.

If you put this thing through an airport scanner in its dismounted form, you are likely to get detained!

joe sch · Feb 8, 2016

Autodidactic player said:
I just picked up a very interesting Pirelli Technort Stratos. These are fairly hard to come by and significantly more "over engineered" than other rackets that can be taken apart - like the Jenro. Here are some pictures:

Does anyone have any other Pirelli models?

Very impressive racket, outstanding purchase.
Is its length adjustable ?

rodracquet · Feb 9, 2016

Just a fluke that received some pics this week of a TECHNORT KATANA. Very cool look I haven't seen before.

joe sch · Feb 10, 2016

rodracquet said:
Just a fluke that received some pics this week of a TECHNORT KATANA. Very cool look I haven't seen before.

Wow very unique design makes me wonder how durable the throat was for play ?
What are the specs ?

Autodidactic player · Feb 10, 2016

joe sch said:
Very impressive racket, outstanding purchase.
Is its length adjustable ?

No, not length adjustable. The piece on the left of the first picture is inserted into the butt cap, threaded side up. The piece with the round end is just a fancy Allen key. It is inserted into the butt cap and the whole thing is inserted into the throat and tightened. Interesting concept!

joe sch said:
Wow very unique design makes me wonder how durable the throat was for play ?
What are the specs ?

I love the design and definitely want one! That said, this thing probably snaps easier than the old Dunlop Twin Shaft.

retrowagen · Feb 10, 2016

The only other Technort model I am aware of is the B1.

Rock Strongo · Feb 18, 2016

rodracquet said:
Just a fluke that received some pics this week of a TECHNORT KATANA. Very cool look I haven't seen before.

That's cool! Looks kind of like a Prince Mono on steroids. Would probably be very fun to play with.

Autodidactic player · Feb 18, 2016

Rock Strongo said:
That's cool! Looks kind of like a Prince Mono on steroids. Would probably be very fun to play with.

I had the opposite reaction. The Katana looks far more fragile than the Mono. I'd say the Technort is the one that needs steroids.

Sanglier · Oct 22, 2019

First Photobucket, now Tinypic (which is owned by Photobucket). The other free hosting sites will undoubtedly follow suit eventually. I think we are witnessing the beginning of the end of the golden era of internet forums, as cool threads like these are wrecked overnight by the tens of thousands, when these hosts are no longer willing or able to subsidize our education and recreation.

For those who want to get their fix by playing with the real thing instead of relying on increasingly unreliable online racquetporn, check out listing 264505021110 on the big auction site, then make an appointment with your loan agent. My initial reaction upon seeing the asking price was that it had to be mistake or a farce, but who knows? The seller emphasized that this is "the fix price". By this standard, @Autodidactic player 's office wall is worth at least $10M.

Henry Hub · Oct 25, 2019

The price has been massively reduced - it’s now an outrageous bargain at a mere EUR95,000.

Autodidactic player · Oct 25, 2019

I'll offer රු 95,000.00.

retrowagen · Oct 25, 2019

That asking price is Stratos-pheric!

Yoneyama · Oct 25, 2019

That is ridiculous hahaha. Surely they meant 500 euro to begin with?

Henry Hub · Oct 26, 2019

I think we’re all rather overlooking the fact that postage is free. Bargain!

teachingprotx · Oct 26, 2019

What is the name of the racket 9th from the left ?
I think the head detaches???
I hit with it once and loved it , dyna sport ??

joe sch · Oct 27, 2019

retrowagen said:
Such an interesting racquet concept... Originating from the automotive world! Pirelli, of course, being Italy's premier manufacturer of tires; Bertone, one of Italy's more prolific design studios/ automobile styling "houses" (and erstwhile coachbuilder of low-volume exotic cars, at times). The name, "Stratos," originated in fact with one of Bertone's finest car designs: the Lancia Stratos, a high-performance, mid-engined sports car fitted with a Ferrari engine: http://petrolicious.com/driven-by-design-the-incomparable-lancia-stratos
In fact, the Stratos typeography on the Technort is the same developed by Bertone and used on the Lancia. I wonder which Austrian manufacturer molded these: Kneissl, or Fischer? Or was it someone else?

The Stratos is petrolicious. Wish I could see the tinypic's.

dr325i · Oct 27, 2019

I need a matched pair, so...will pass

hannah1901 · Nov 2, 2021

I used to own a Technort Horus, designed by Bertone

Autodidactic player · Nov 2, 2021

hannah1901 said:
I used to own a Technort Horus, designed by Bertone

I still have a Horus. The Tinypics I posted five years ago don't show up any more so, to send you down memory lane, here's a picture:

My really interesting Technort is a model called the Stratos that comes apart, supposedly to make it easier to travel with.

Henry Hub · Nov 3, 2021

The MacGyver of rackets! You said above that this is more over-engineered than other collapsible rackets - is the Jeanrot only 2 attachable segments? There is an A-460 online that I have been toying with getting for about 6 months now…

Autodidactic player · Nov 3, 2021

Henry Hub said:
... is the Jeanrot only 2 attachable segments? There is an A-460 online that I have been toying with getting for about 6 months now…

The Jeanrot is not designed to come apart. Instead, the handle folds up on to the head. Here are some pictures of the A-360 model:

The Jenro, on the other hand, has a handle that is designed to be removed. Here are some pictures.

The Jenro rackets are fairly common. A few years ago, you could even buy them on Amazon. As far as I know, the company, which was independent, is now out of business. The Jeanrot, made by Snauwaert, is far less common a would make a worthy addition to any odd racket collection. I don't know the difference between the A-360 and A-460 so if you decide to purchase the one you saw online, please post some pictures.

guanzishou · Dec 6, 2021

Wow I've never seen any of these racquets! Interesting concept.

guanzishou · Dec 6, 2021

Autodidactic player said:
I just picked up a very interesting Pirelli Technort Stratos. These are fairly hard to come by and significantly more "over engineered" than other rackets that can be taken apart - like the Jenro. Here are some pictures:

Does anyone have any other Pirelli models?

How does it feel when you hit with it? light? heavy? stable?

Autodidactic player · Dec 6, 2021

guanzishou said:
How does it feel when you hit with it? light? heavy? stable?

I've never hit with this racket. The feel is very solid and surprisingly well balanced, unlike the Jenro above which feels very flimsy. I'd estimate that it is slightly heavier, perhaps half an ounce (14 grams), than a standard racket due to the screw needed to put it together.

Great video. Thanks!

Henry Hub · Dec 22, 2021

I am currently slogging through Victorian sporting journals from 1874 onwards to find old racket ads and tennis articles, correspondence etc. At some point I will collate all of it into something on the Really Ancient History thread but thought this racket ad from September 1881 might be of interest as a distant relative of the Stratos and Jenro!

https://imgur.com/a/6IG0auK

Autodidactic player · Dec 22, 2021

Henry Hub said:
I am currently slogging through Victorian sporting journals from 1874 onwards to find old racket ads and tennis articles, correspondence etc. At some point I will collate all of it into something on the Really Ancient History thread but thought this racket ad from September 1881 might be of interest as a distant relative of the Stratos and Jenro!

https://imgur.com/a/6IG0auK

Wow, great find! Unfortunately, I'm guessing I'd need to take out second mortgage to afford to add one of those to my collection - if I could ever find one.

rodracquet · Dec 31, 2021

Henry Hub said:
I am currently slogging through Victorian sporting journals from 1874 onwards to find old racket ads and tennis articles, correspondence etc. At some point I will collate all of it into something on the Really Ancient History thread but thought this racket ad from September 1881 might be of interest as a distant relative of the Stratos and Jenro!

https://imgur.com/a/6IG0auK

Great find Henry....the innovation of racquets has been a constant from the beginning. This adds to the bent model (along the playing side, most odd) the curved model by Slazenger and the double strung model like Blackburne.

DariaGT · Feb 17, 2023

rodracquet said:
Just a fluke that received some pics this week of a TECHNORT KATANA. Very cool look I haven't seen before.

That is off the scales!!!!

Pirelli Technort Stratos

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