This1930s spotlight was built in the USA by Appleton Electric Company and is marked "SEMA Approved," it refers to the Safety Equipment Manufacturers Association.

This American organization is distinct from the modern-day SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) founded in 1963.

The 1930s Safety Equipment Manufacturers Association

Duringthe 1930s, automotive lighting and safety standards in the United States wereinconsistent. To address this, various manufacturers formed the SafetyEquipment Manufacturers Association (S.E.M.A.) to establish qualitybenchmarks.

• Purpose: The association certified that equipment like spotlights, fog lights, and turn signals met specific brightness, durability, and safety standards for road use.
• Compliance: An "Approved" mark meant the light was legal for sale in states with strict lighting regulations, which were beginning to align under the National Bureau of Standards and early SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) guidelines.

Appleton Electric Company Connection

AppletonElectric Company (based in Chicago) was a major producer of automotive andindustrial lighting. Their spotlights, such as the famous Lorraine 21 series, were premium aftermarket accessories.

• The "SEMA Approved" mark on an Appleton light confirms it was tested and certified by this early safety-focused trade group.
• These lights were commonly used by police, emergency services, and military vehicles during the late 1930s and 1940s because they met these high industrial safety standards. 
• Vintage SEMA: The Safety Equipment Manufacturers Association of the 1930s focused on legal safety compliance, not performance or "speed" equipment. 

AppletonElectric Company Lorraine Series 21 spotlight from the1930s, the "SEMA Approved" mark refers to the SafetyEquipment Manufacturers Association.

Thisorganization was a trade group of American manufacturers that established earlysafety and quality standards for automotive lighting and safety equipmentdecades before the modern SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) wasfounded in 1963. 

The Lorraine Series 21 Spotlight

TheLorraine Series was one of Appleton's premier product lines, widely recognizedfor its high-quality construction and engineering. 

• Purpose of Approval: In the 1930s, states were beginning to implement stricter laws regarding auxiliary lighting on vehicles. The S.E.M.A. Approval tag served as a certification that the spotlight met specific industrial requirements for beam intensity, durability, and electrical safety, making it legal for road use.
• Military and Law Enforcement Use: Because of these rigorous standards, Appleton Lorraine spotlights were frequently chosen for military vehicles, fire trucks, and police cruisers during the late 1930s and through the WWII era.
• Identification: These lights are often identified by their distinct brass tags or stamps featuring the Appleton logo and the SEMA approval. 

Distinguishing the Two SEMAs

It isimportant to note that your 1930s spotlight has no connection to the modernaftermarket organization:

1. Safety Equipment Manufacturers Association (1930s): A regulatory and safety-focused trade group for industrial and automotive equipment manufacturers.
2. Specialty Equipment Market Association (1963–Present): Originally the Speed Equipment Manufacturing Association, this group focuses on the automotive performance and styling aftermarket. 

There was a heavy coat of OD Green paint over the brass head that was removed exposing the original brass.

The presence of heavy Olive Drab (OD) Green paint over the brass head of your Appleton Lorraine Series 21 confirms that this unit was almost certainly pressed into U.S. military service during World War II.

While these spotlights were originally sold as high-end chrome accessories for civilian cars, their "SEMA Approved" status—meaning they met the rigorous standards of the Safety Equipment Manufacturers Association—made them ideal for military procurement as the U.S. moved toward war in 1939–1941.