A method of stopping of a winding machine that hoists and lowers an object prevents abrasion of the electromagnetic brake and the descent of load. The winding machine, which winches a load up or down in response to a torque command T.sub.REF to the electric motor M produced by the speed controller ASR in accordance with the a speed command N.sub.REF generated by the speed command generation circuit NRC, operates at the stopping of the machine to cease the motor control if the motor speed N.sub.FB is zero after the torque command to the motor M is brought to zero for a predetermined length of time following the issuance of a brake command to the electromagnetic brake which is coupled directly to the motor M.