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1 of 1- ztyper
- Key Master
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- From: Somewhere in New Jersey
- Registered: 01-10-2014
- Posts: 773
Back to the backspace
It has come to my attention that the backspace position is up for debate. Some say it should be on the left and others say the right. And it shows with my machines too. All but two of my typewriters have them on the right. Only my Remington Noiseless and Royal 440 have them on the left. Why isn't there a standard when it comes to the placement of the backspace? Even within the same company, it varries. Is it a mechanical reason and they only had space on that side? Or it's just arbitrarily placed on the left or right?
A high schooler with a lot of typewriters. That's pretty much about it.
- Uwe
- Moderator
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- From: Toronto, Canada
- Registered: 12-3-2013
- Posts: 4,410
Re: Back to the backspace
As I mentioned in the other thread, the one I assume is the debate you're referring to, I think most American machines had the backspace on the left while European models mostly placed it on the right. If you only use one typewriter it shouldn't matter which side it's on, but it can be a real pain if you switch between the two types often. I prefer it on the right side, only because I'm right handed and it's easier for me to manipulate the backspace key with my right hand.
The pronoun I has always been capitalized in the English language for more than 700 years.
- JanetLand
- Platen Punisher
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- Registered: 16-12-2013
- Posts: 99
Re: Back to the backspace
My Corona Comet DeLuxe from 1941 has the backspace on the right. Is that standard for Smith-Coronas? Anyway, that's the typewriter I grew up using so I am firmly in the backspace-on-the-right camp.
- Uwe
- Moderator
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- From: Toronto, Canada
- Registered: 12-3-2013
- Posts: 4,410
Re: Back to the backspace
JanetLand wrote:
My Corona Comet DeLuxe from 1941 has the backspace on the right. Is that standard for Smith-Coronas?
No. The next generation portables (4 series) had the backspace on the left, as did the other generations that followed. The standard models were also left-sided. However, my Zephyr (1938) and Skyriters ('40s-'50s) all have them on the right. That's why I was careful to qualify it as most models instead of all. Complicating things are the American companies that sold machines that were originally made by European companies.
The pronoun I has always been capitalized in the English language for more than 700 years.
- ztyper
- Key Master
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- From: Somewhere in New Jersey
- Registered: 01-10-2014
- Posts: 773
Re: Back to the backspace
Well I rotate between seven typewriters and a computer. So it is rather a pain when the backspace switches places. I really only use my SMs and SF DeLuxe. And they're all on the right. So I guess it's ok.
A high schooler with a lot of typewriters. That's pretty much about it.
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