Abstract: An electric brake motor, particularly of the kind having a squirrel cage rotor and a slow-running stator winding with a large number of poles, is provided with electrical switching means to increase the motor current briefly on starting, at least on starting of the slowrunning winding, so as to increase the magnetic field generated by the motor current for releasing the brake. The switching means may be contacts actuated by axial movement of the rotor on starting, or a relay or contactor operated by the motor current or by a control switch. The increase in current may be achieved by briefly shortcircuiting part of the motor winding or by briefly connecting a second, fast-running stator winding in parallel with the slow-running winding in the case of a change-pole motor.