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The H/L may be to adjust the touch control. The +/- is maybe to set and clear a tab stop. As for the lack of an exclamation point, I think you may be right to some extent. But also, not having a dedicated key for it saved space for another character (like the f for florin/guilder).
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1981 Brother - Deluxe 1613 (Model JP-5) in a vibrant custom repaint.
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