An electromagnetic arrangement comprises an armature (12) mounted within a housing (5) and carrying an electrically energisable coil (14). A core (8) slides inwardly of a hollow space (10) against a compression spring (18) in response to electrical energisation of the coil (14), and slides in the opposite direction upon de-energisation of the coil in response to the stored energy of the spring (18). The core (8) is connected to an output member (6) by means of a control rod (24) freely slidable through the core (8) and which has an enlarged head (27) against which a second coil spring (28) acts. During inward movement of the core (8) in response to energisation of the coil (14), the core (8) pulls the output member (6) through the intermediary of a second spring (28) and a control rod (24) which is slidable through the core (8) and is fixed to the output member (6). During outward movement of the core (8) in response to de-energisation of the coil (14), an end face (15) of the core (8) pushes on an end face (26) of the output member (6). When the core (8) is at its innermost position, a predetermined amount of play (32) exists between the end (15) of the core (8) and the end face (26) of the output member (6). This allows the core (8) to accelerate before it abuts against the end face (26) of the output member (6).