I see nicolas has answered your question and all I can add is that in my trips in europe I seldom found them, though even up here, some hotels do have round ones.

I suspect it is because different evolution paths. About 100 years ago many doorknobs where made of wood. Round shaped doorknops were more solid than any other shape. Of course that is irrelevant if you make them out of metal.

Walter,


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>>>I know that there is a hotel in Den Haag that actually has round doorknobs. Back in the mid 80s most doors had latches or handles so I was surprised to see round doorknobs. In the Army, we used to say 'Back to the land of round doorknobs' when someone was returning stateside :o)
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>>That still is the case. Round doorknobs still are not popular here. This is one of the subtile differences between your and my country.
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>Do you know if round door knobs are common in the U.K.? I figure their use here had to come from somewhere.
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>>Walter,