Kraftwerk Co-Founder's Prized Possessions Hitting the Auction Block

In November 2025, Julien's Auctions will be offering a unique opportunity for music fans and collectors. The auction house is set to sell over 450 items that belonged to the late Florian Schneider, the co-founder of the pioneering electronic music group Kraftwerk.

Schneider, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 73, was a classically trained flautist who co-founded Kraftwerk with Ralf Hütter in 1970. He was known for his fascination with technology, particularly in the field of speech synthesis, and held several patents during his lifetime.

The upcoming auction features a wide range of Schneider's personal belongings, including his 1964 Volkswagen van and the Panasonic bicycle he rode in the 1984 music video for a remix of "Tour De France." Additionally, the collection includes a number of woodwind and brass instruments, such as the 1960s Orsi alto flute that appeared on the back cover of Kraftwerk's 1970 self-titled debut album.

Perhaps most intriguing are the Votrax speech synthesizer units that Schneider and Kraftwerk used to create the iconic robot voices that opened all of their concerts between 1981 and 2002. These rare and influential pieces of music technology will be up for grabs for the highest bidders.

The auction is set to take place on Wednesday, November 18, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee, and online at the Julien's Auctions website. Music enthusiasts and collectors around the world will have the chance to own a piece of Kraftwerk's legacy and Florian Schneider's remarkable musical legacy.