Steidel Practice 1900

The racquet features a solid wood frame, traditional round head, and straightforward construction typical of turn-of-the-century design.

Sporthaus Steidel was a historic sporting goods store in Berlin that evolved from a mid-19th-century textile business into a premier destination for hunting and sports equipment before its destruction in World War II.

History and Origins

• Founding (1860): The company was established in 1860, originally as a hosiery manufacturer under the name Gustav Steidel.

• Expansion (1870–1884): Around 1870, Gustav Steidel purchased a building near the Spittelkolonnaden. He demolished it in 1884 to build a new structure, which officially opened as a specialized sports shop.

• Specialization: Early 20th-century catalogs, such as "Katalog K" from around 1910, highlight the store as a "Spezial-Sport-Haus" focusing on hunting and tourist equipment.

Notable Locations

• Leipziger Straße 67–70: This was the primary location and headquarters for several decades. It sat adjacent to the Spittelkolonnaden and was a central landmark for sports retail in Berlin.

• Rosenthaler Straße 34–35: A branch location was established here, which was later taken over by merchant Georg Leisegang in 1924.

Leadership and Name Changes

• Theodor Steidel: The youngest son of the founder took over the sports business. Under his leadership, the firm name was officially updated to Sporthaus Steidel in 1937.

• Alexander Steidel: The elder son managed a confectionery within the same building starting in 1893.

The End of the Business

• World War II: The flagship building on Leipziger Straße was destroyed during the war.

• Dissolution: Following the deaths of Theodor in 1942 and Alexander in 1945, the family-led era of the business concluded. Today, the former site on Leipziger Straße is part of a modern residential and commercial complex developed during the GDR era.