Abstract: A contact member according to the invention effectively controls the production of sparks even at a high current, has a simple structure and is appropriate for use as a small contact brush as in a micromotor. A method of manufacturing a strip material for producing the contact member, the strip material being provided with a surface metal layer having a desired configuration which can be easily manufactured continuously, precisely and in large quantities with a high yield of contact members. Each of the contact members comprises a metal base plate and a sintered metal layer formed on a surface of the metal base plate. The contact member is cut from the strip material, which is manufactured by first printing a metal paste on desired positions on a metal base strip and then sintering the metal paste. The sintered metal layer is firmly joined to the metal base strip by diffusion bonding.