This business was established by 1913 as the Star Fan & Motor Co. They also used the name Star Fan & Motor Works. In July 1917 they changed name to the Star Electric Motor Co., although the two older names continued to be used for a couple of years.

Soon after the name change they began to use the brad "SEMCO" for their fans and motors. In about 1935 we begin to see the name of a new company division, the Star Machine & Engineering Corp., which manufactured drill grinders among their products. That business continued until about 1943 when it quietly disappeared. The Star Electric Motor Company itself seems to have continued until about 1950.

Information Sources

• June 1913 Electrical Installation Record (Volume 13, page 72). "The Fullerton Electric Co., 109 West 26th street, New York, has the sole selling agency for the "Star" direct current fan, made by the Star Fan & Motor Works, of Newark, N. J. The 1913 model of this fan includes a special oil retaining device and other lubricating features that insures easy and quiet running."
• 1916 McGraw Electrical Directory, in the categories of A. C. Motors and D. C. Motors, lists "Star Fan & Motor Co., 245 New Jersey R. R. Ave., Newark, N. J."
• 1917 Corporations of New Jersey—List of Certificates Filed in the Department of State, page 251. "Star Electric Motor Company—245 New Jersey Railroad Ave., Newark, Agent, Carl M. Peterson. / Manufacture electric motors, etc. / [incorporated under] Corp. Act. / [date of incorporation] July 24, 1917".
• July 1917 Electrical Age, page 58, small display ad from Star Fan and Motor Works, 245-247 N.J.R.R. Ave., Newark, N. J. The motors shown were DC motors, from 1/32 to 1 HP.
• November 1917 Electrical Record, page 83.

  Star Electric Motor Co. is the new name for the Star Fan & Motor Company, with offices and factory located at 245 North Jersey Railroad Ave., Newark, N. J. The business of the company, in the manufacture of motors, generators and fans, has called for a broader development which will be conducted by the same management.

• 1918 Industrial Directory of New Jersey, page 413, lists "Star Fan & Motor Works", makers of "Electric fans, motor and dyanmos", and employing about 35 persons. On page 724 they were listed under the category of Dynamos; the company address is 245-247 N. J. R. R. Ave., Newark. They are also listed under the categories of Electric Fans, and Motors (Fan).
• January 1918 Electric Record, page 29.

  Star Small Direct Current Motors

  The line of small direct current motors made by the Star Electric Motor Company, 245-47 New Jersey Railroad Avenue, Newark, N. J., has recently been extended by the developments of designs of 1 hp. and larger which embody the cast steel frame construction with laminated poles heretofore employed for the smaller sizes. In addition ball bearings are being used.

  Series-wound, shunt-wound and compound motors are built to have the following characteristics: The series-wound motors run at the rated speed only with full load. In case the load is decreased, the speed will rise in proportion to the decrease in load on the motor. The shunt-wound motors maintain a speed practically constant, from no load to full load. Compound-motors combine the advantages of series and shunt-wound motors with a greater starting torque. It is claimed that the shunt-wound motors will not vary in speed more than 5 per cent and can be made for accurate speed regulation at full load when requirements are stated in the specifications. The maker points out that a rigid construction is used with brush holders, cast solid and mounted in heavy rocker arms.

  A picture caption notes that the motors were built in sizes of 1/32 to 5 HP.
• 1918-07-25 The Iron Trade Review, page 234.

  Newark, N. J.—The Star Fan & Motor Works is the lessee of a $31,000 factory building to be erected by the National Advertising Corp.

• A 1937 ad for a drill grinder is from "Star Machine & Engineering Corp. / Division of Star Electric Motor Co. / Bloomfield Ave. / Bloomfield, New Jersey".
• 1949 New Jersey Industrial Directory, page 336. "Star Electric Motor Co., ac & dc motors, integral disc brake motors, generators, motor generator sets, gearmotors, gear brake motors & disc brakes, 200 Bloomfield av, Bloomfield. Ch of bd Elvin E. Hallander; pres H. T. Shea; v-pres James M. Adair; sec Harold Sokobin; treas H. W. Horne; pur agt Roscoe Conklin; pt mgr Adrian Peresson. Emp 350 m."