Electromotor Co. was established by Joseph F. Kadic and Harry A. Porter by 1913 to manufacturer motors, generators and synchronous converters. They were listed in various trade directories as late as 1922 but it is likely they disappeared years earlier. One possibility is that they were acquired as part of the amalgamation of dozens of motor manufacturers into a small handful of companies. It may be significant that by 1916 Century Electric Co. had a branch office located at the address where Electromotor Co. had been.

Information Sources

• Thanks to Terry Benco, owner of a 1/2 hp 115 VDC Electromotor, for bringing this maker to our attention.
• A search on businesses located at 32-40 South Clinton Street, Chicago, reveal that that address simultaneously housed a number of businesses.
  • December 1910 Commercial Stamp Trade Journal. "The Superior Type Company have moved into their new quarters, 32-40 South Clinton street. This is in the vicinity of the West Side postoffice to be constructed in the near future. It is already the center of large manufactories of the city."
  • 1911 Certified List of Illinois Corporations lists the following businesses at 32-40 S. Clinton st., Chicago: Hill-Independent Manufacturing Co.; National Automatic Music Co.; National Piano Mfg. Co.; Oneida Steel Pulley Co.; Superior Type Co.; and National Automatic Music Co.
  • 1913 Certified List of Illinois Corporations lists the following at 32-40 S. Clinton st., Chicago: Chicago Pulley and Shafting Co.; Chicago Apparatus Co.; Chicago Printing Ink Co.; Will-Independent Manufacturing Co.; Superior Type Co.; National Automatic Music Co.; National Piano Mfg. Co.; Harry A. Porter, Inc.;
  • January 1914 The Western Teacher has a news item: "The Chicago Apparatus Co., of Chicago, now occupies new and commodious quarts at 32-40 Clinton street".
  • February 1914 Exporters' Review has an ad for carbon paper from The Newton-Rotherick Mfg. Co., 32-40 South Clinton St., Chicago.
  • February 1914 The Paper Box Maker lists attendees at a meeting of the Western Paper Box Manufacturers' Association, including a representative from Hobbs Manufacturing Company, 32-40 South Clinton street, Chicago.
  • 1916 McGraw Electrical Trade Directory lists Century Electric Co. of St. Louis as having a branch office at 32-40 S. Clinton St., Chicago. Harry A. Porter, Inc., 32-40 S. Clinton St., Chicago, is listed as a supplier of "Northwestern" and "Electromotor" DC motors, "Century" and "Northwestern" AC motors, "Dayton" fans, "Dayton" and "Century" fan motors, and "Temco" electric hand drills.
  • September 1916 Office Appliances mentions a new product from Superior Type Company, 32-40 South Clinton street, Chicago.
  • June 1917 Cleaning and Dyeing World. "The Electric Rotary Machine Company has recently moved to new, larger and much finer quarters in the fireproof building at 32-40 South Clinton street..."
  • August 1917 Southern Engineer mentions a new catalog from Stanley Belting Corporation, 32-40 South Clinton St., Chicago.
  • August 1917 Electrical Record has a writeup on the electric floor scrubber from the Electric Rotary Machine Company, 32-40 South Clinton Street, Chicago.
  • 1918 McGraw Electrical Trade Directory lists Harry A. Porter, Inc., 32 Clinton St., Chicago, as agents for the Temco electric hand drill.
  • 1920 Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction lists, among suppliers of "Opticons and slides" and "General laboratory supplies", Chicago Apparatus Co., 32-40 South Clinton Street, Chicago.
  • 1920 Sterling's Marine Catalog lists, under Textile Belting, Stanley Belting Corp., 32-40 South Clinton St., Chicago".
  • March 1921 General Science Quarterly. "The Chicago Apparatus Company, formerly of 32-40 South Clinton Street has moved to 701-707 West Washington Boulevard, Chicago..."
• 1903 Armour Institute of Technology Year Book 1903-04 lists Joseph F. Kadic, 682 S. Avers ave., Chicago, class of '05, was "With Western Electric Company, Chicago, Ill."
• April 1913 Electrical Record lists makers of "Motors and Dynamos", including the Electromotor Co., Chicago, Ill.
• 1913-07-10 The Iron Trade Review.

  CHICAGO.—Harry A. Porter, Inc., 32 Clinton street, advises the company will carry on the work conducted by Harry Porter for years. The company will devote most of its attention to the sale of electric motors.

• 1914 Annual Report of the Chief State Factory Inspector of Illinois lists Electromotor Co., 561 DeKoven St., manufacturer of Motors, 5 employees including 2 males over 16, 2 females over 16, 1 boy age 14 to 16 and one child under age 14. The address, strangely, was the address of a savings bank.
• May 1914 Bulletin of the Armour Institute of Technology mentions that Joseph F. Kadic, E. E. class of 1910, was "with the Electromotor Co., 32 S. Clinton St., Chicago, Ill."
• 1920 Sterling's Marine Catalog & Service lists Electromotor Co., 40 S. Clinton St., Chicago, as a provider of "Motor Generator Sets".
• 1921 EMF Electrical Year Book lists "Electromotor Co., 32-40 S. Clinton St., Chicago, Ill. Manufacturer of motors, generators and synchronous converters. Copartnership, J. F. Kadic and H. A. Porter."
• 1922 Farm Light and Power Year Book lists suppliers of Generators, including Electromotor Co., Chicago, Ill.
• 1936-05-10 Chicago Tribune, page 28.

  KADIC Joseph F. Kadic, May 7. 1936, suddenly; beloved husband of Emily M. Kadic, nee Stuchlik; fond father of Irma L. Petru, dear father-in-law of Frank L. Petru. Remains resting at chapel, 6716 W. 16th-St., Berwyn. Ill. Funeral at above mentioned chapel, Monday, May 11, 1936. 2 p. m. Interment Bohemian National cemetery.

• Various genealogy websites tell us that Joseph F. Kadic (1879-1936) was married to Emily Marguerite Stuchlik