diff --git a/src/mrw/deque.hxx b/src/mrw/deque.hxx
index 3c516f5..eec3ef7 100644
--- a/src/mrw/deque.hxx
+++ b/src/mrw/deque.hxx
@@ -49,21 +49,12 @@
     @param o a value to be inserted into deque @c l
     @pre \#include <mrw/deque.hxx>
 */
-#ifdef MRW__OLD_PRE11_COMPILER
 template <typename T, typename A>
     std::deque<T, A> operator<<(std::deque<T, A> l, const T& o)
     throw(std::bad_exception) {
   l.push_back(o);
   return l;
 }
-#else
-template <typename T, typename A>
-    std::deque<T, A>&& operator<<(std::deque<T, A>&& l, const T& o)
-    throw(std::bad_exception) {
-  l.push_back(o);
-  return l;
-}
-#endif
 
 /** @brief extract the first value of a deque
 
@@ -83,22 +74,8 @@ template <typename T, typename A>
     shortened by the shifted element
     @pre \#include <mrw/deque.hxx>
 */
-#ifdef MRW__OLD_PRE11_COMPILER
-template <typename T, typename A>
-    std::deque<T, A> operator>>(std::deque<T, A> l, T& o)
-    throw(std::exception) {
-  typename std::deque<T, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
-  if (it==l.end())
-    throw mrw::length_error(std::string(__FILE__ ":")+__LINE__+
-                            ": std::deque<>& operator>>(std::deque<>&, T&),"
-                            " deque is empty");
-  o = *it;
-  l.erase(it);
-  return l;
-}
-#else
 template <typename T, typename A>
-    std::deque<T, A>&& operator>>(std::deque<T, A>&& l, T& o)
+    std::deque<T, A>& operator>>(std::deque<T, A>& l, T& o)
     throw(std::exception) {
   typename std::deque<T, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
   if (it==l.end())
@@ -109,7 +86,6 @@ template <typename T, typename A>
   l.erase(it);
   return l;
 }
-#endif
 
 //@}
 //@}
diff --git a/src/mrw/list.hxx b/src/mrw/list.hxx
index f810197..c9d5f37 100644
--- a/src/mrw/list.hxx
+++ b/src/mrw/list.hxx
@@ -67,14 +67,8 @@
     @param o a value to be inserted into list @c l
     @pre \#include <mrw/list.hxx>
 */
-// template <typename T, typename A, typename FROM>
-//   std::list<T, A>& operator<<(std::list<T, A>& l, const FROM& o)
-//     throw(std::bad_exception) {
-//   l.push_back(T(o));
-//   return l;
-// }
 template <typename T, typename A>
-  std::list<T, A>& operator<<(std::list<T, A>& l, const T& o)
+  std::list<T, A> operator<<(std::list<T, A> l, const T& o)
     throw(std::bad_exception) {
   l.push_back(o);
   return l;
@@ -91,8 +85,8 @@ template <typename T, typename A>
     @param o a value to be inserted into list @c l
     @pre \#include <mrw/list.hxx> */
 template <typename T, typename A>
-    std::list<T, A>& operator<<(std::list<T, A>& l,
-                                const char *const o)
+    std::list<T, A> operator<<(std::list<T, A> l,
+                               const char *const o)
     throw(std::bad_exception) {
   l.push_back(T(o));
   return l;
diff --git a/src/mrw/map.hxx b/src/mrw/map.hxx
index 8852a4f..872e98a 100644
--- a/src/mrw/map.hxx
+++ b/src/mrw/map.hxx
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@
     @param o a value to be inserted into map @c l
     @pre \#include <mrw/map.hxx>
 */
-#ifdef MRW__OLD_PRE11_COMPILER
 template <typename K, typename T, class C, typename A>
     std::map<K, T, C, A> operator<<(std::map<K, T, C, A> l,
                                      const std::pair<K, T>& o)
@@ -63,19 +62,6 @@ template <typename K, typename T, class C, typename A>
                                 "map element already exists");
   return l;
 }
-#else
-template <typename K, typename T, class C, typename A>
-    std::map<K, T, C, A>&& operator<<(std::map<K, T, C, A>&& l,
-                                     const std::pair<K, T>& o)
-  throw(std::exception) {
-  if (!l.insert(o).second)
-    throw mrw::invalid_argument(std::string(__FILE__ ":")+__LINE__+
-                                ": std::map<>&"
-                                " operator<<(std::map<>&, const T&),"
-                                "map element already exists");
-  return l;
-}
-#endif
 
 /** @brief extract the first value of a map
 
@@ -96,9 +82,9 @@ template <typename K, typename T, class C, typename A>
     shortened by the shifted element
     @pre \#include <mrw/map.hxx>
 */
-#ifdef MRW__OLD_PRE11_COMPILER
 template <typename K, typename T, class C, typename A>
-    std::map<K, T, C, A> operator>>(std::map<K, T, C, A> l, std::pair<K, T>& o)
+    std::map<K, T, C, A>& operator>>(std::map<K, T, C, A>& l,
+                                     std::pair<K, T>& o)
     throw(std::exception) {
   typename std::map<K, T, C, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
   if (it==l.end())
@@ -109,21 +95,6 @@ template <typename K, typename T, class C, typename A>
   l.erase(it);
   return l;
 }
-#else
-template <typename K, typename T, class C, typename A>
-    std::map<K, T, C, A>&& operator>>(std::map<K, T, C, A>&& l,
-                                      std::pair<K, T>& o)
-    throw(std::exception) {
-  typename std::map<K, T, C, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
-  if (it==l.end())
-    throw mrw::length_error(std::string(__FILE__ ":")+__LINE__+
-                            ": std::map<>& operator>>(std::map<>&, T&),"
-                            " map is empty");
-  o = *it;
-  l.erase(it);
-  return l;
-}
-#endif
 
 //@}
 //@}
diff --git a/src/mrw/multimap.hxx b/src/mrw/multimap.hxx
index 1359bba..ca39c8a 100644
--- a/src/mrw/multimap.hxx
+++ b/src/mrw/multimap.hxx
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@
     @param o a value to be inserted into multimap @c l
     @pre \#include <mrw/multimap.hxx>
 */
-#ifdef MRW__OLD_PRE11_COMPILER
 template <typename K, typename T, class C, typename A>
     std::multimap<K, T, C, A> operator<<(std::multimap<K, T, C, A> l,
                                          const std::pair<K, T>& o)
@@ -59,15 +58,6 @@ template <typename K, typename T, class C, typename A>
   l.insert(o);
   return l;
 }
-#else
-template <typename K, typename T, class C, typename A>&&
-    std::multimap<K, T, C, A> operator<<(std::multimap<K, T, C, A>&& l,
-                                         const std::pair<K, T>& o)
-    throw(std::bad_exception) {
-  l.insert(o);
-  return l;
-}
-#endif
 
 /** @brief extract the first value of a multimap
 
@@ -88,9 +78,8 @@ template <typename K, typename T, class C, typename A>&&
     shortened by the shifted element
     @pre \#include <mrw/multimap.hxx>
 */
-#ifdef MRW__OLD_PRE11_COMPILER
 template <typename K, typename T, class C, typename A>
-    std::multimap<K, T, C, A> operator>>(std::multimap<K, T, C, A> l,
+    std::multimap<K, T, C, A>& operator>>(std::multimap<K, T, C, A>& l,
                                          std::pair<K, T>& o)
     throw(std::exception) {
   typename std::multimap<K, T, C, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
@@ -102,21 +91,6 @@ template <typename K, typename T, class C, typename A>
   l.erase(it);
   return l;
 }
-#else
-template <typename K, typename T, class C, typename A>
-    std::multimap<K, T, C, A>&& operator>>(std::multimap<K, T, C, A>&& l,
-                                           std::pair<K, T>& o)
-    throw(std::exception) {
-  typename std::multimap<K, T, C, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
-  if (it==l.end())
-    throw mrw::length_error(std::string(__FILE__ ":")+__LINE__+
-                            ": std::multimap<>::operator>>,"
-                            " multimap is empty");
-  o = *it;
-  l.erase(it);
-  return l;
-}
-#endif
 
 //@}
 //@}
diff --git a/src/mrw/multiset.hxx b/src/mrw/multiset.hxx
index 328635a..347f5b7 100644
--- a/src/mrw/multiset.hxx
+++ b/src/mrw/multiset.hxx
@@ -49,21 +49,12 @@
     @param o a value to be inserted into multiset @c l
     @pre \#include <mrw/multiset.hxx>
 */
-#ifdef MRW__OLD_PRE11_COMPILER
 template <typename T, class C, typename A>
     std::multiset<T, C, A> operator<<(std::multiset<T, C, A> l, const T& o)
     throw(std::bad_exception) {
   l.insert(o);
   return l;
 }
-#else
-template <typename T, class C, typename A>
-    std::multiset<T, C, A>&& operator<<(std::multiset<T, C, A>&& l, const T& o)
-    throw(std::bad_exception) {
-  l.insert(o);
-  return l;
-}
-#endif
 
 /** @brief extract the first value of a multiset
 
@@ -83,22 +74,8 @@ template <typename T, class C, typename A>
     shortened by the shifted element
     @pre \#include <mrw/multiset.hxx>
 */
-#ifdef MRW__OLD_PRE11_COMPILER
-template <typename T, class C, typename A>
-    std::multiset<T, C, A> operator>>(std::multiset<T, C, A> l, T& o)
-    throw(std::exception) {
-  typename std::multiset<T, C, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
-  if (it==l.end())
-    throw mrw::length_error(std::string(__FILE__ ":")+__LINE__+
-                            ": std::multiset<> operator>>,"
-                            " multiset is empty");
-  o = *it;
-  l.erase(it);
-  return l;
-}
-#else
 template <typename T, class C, typename A>
-    std::multiset<T, C, A>&& operator>>(std::multiset<T, C, A>&& l, T& o)
+    std::multiset<T, C, A>& operator>>(std::multiset<T, C, A>& l, T& o)
     throw(std::exception) {
   typename std::multiset<T, C, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
   if (it==l.end())
@@ -109,7 +86,6 @@ template <typename T, class C, typename A>
   l.erase(it);
   return l;
 }
-#endif
 
 //@}
 //@}
diff --git a/src/mrw/set.hxx b/src/mrw/set.hxx
index d1dec66..88ddfc8 100644
--- a/src/mrw/set.hxx
+++ b/src/mrw/set.hxx
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@
     @param o a value to be inserted into set @c l
     @pre \#include <mrw/set.hxx>
 */
-#ifdef MRW__OLD_PRE11_COMPILER
 template <typename T, class C, typename A>
     std::set<T, C, A> operator<<(std::set<T, C, A> l, const T& o)
     throw(std::exception) {
@@ -60,17 +59,6 @@ template <typename T, class C, typename A>
                                 "set element already exists");
   return l;
 }
-#else
-template <typename T, class C, typename A>
-    std::set<T, C, A>&& operator<<(std::set<T, C, A>&& l, const T& o)
-    throw(std::exception) {
-  if (!l.insert(o).second)
-    throw mrw::invalid_argument(std::string(__FILE__ ":")+__LINE__+
-                                ": std::set<> operator<<, "
-                                "set element already exists");
-  return l;
-}
-#endif
 
 /** @brief extract the first value of a set
 
@@ -90,22 +78,8 @@ template <typename T, class C, typename A>
     shortened by the shifted element
     @pre \#include <mrw/set.hxx>
 */
-#ifdef MRW__OLD_PRE11_COMPILER
-template <typename T, class C, typename A>
-    std::set<T, C, A> operator>>(std::set<T, C, A> l, T& o)
-    throw(std::exception) {
-  typename std::set<T, C, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
-  if (it==l.end())
-    throw mrw::length_error(std::string(__FILE__ ":")+__LINE__+
-                            ": std::set<> operator>>,"
-                            " set is empty");
-  o = *it;
-  l.erase(it);
-  return l;
-}
-#else
 template <typename T, class C, typename A>
-    std::set<T, C, A> operator>>(std::set<T, C, A> l, T& o)
+    std::set<T, C, A>& operator>>(std::set<T, C, A>& l, T& o)
     throw(std::exception) {
   typename std::set<T, C, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
   if (it==l.end())
@@ -116,7 +90,6 @@ template <typename T, class C, typename A>
   l.erase(it);
   return l;
 }
-#endif
 
 //@}
 //@}
diff --git a/src/mrw/vector.hxx b/src/mrw/vector.hxx
index 804ed1b..b2a8048 100644
--- a/src/mrw/vector.hxx
+++ b/src/mrw/vector.hxx
@@ -49,21 +49,12 @@
     @param o a value to be inserted into vector @c l
     @pre \#include <mrw/vector.hxx>
 */
-#ifdef MRW__OLD_PRE11_COMPILER
 template <typename T, typename A>
     std::vector<T, A> operator<<(std::vector<T, A> l, const T& o)
     throw(std::bad_exception) {
   l.push_back(o);
   return l;
 }
-#else
-template <typename T, typename A>
-    std::vector<T, A>&& operator<<(std::vector<T, A>&& l, const T& o)
-    throw(std::bad_exception) {
-  l.push_back(o);
-  return l;
-}
-#endif
 
 /** @brief extract the first value of a vector
 
@@ -83,22 +74,8 @@ template <typename T, typename A>
     shortened by the shifted element
     @pre \#include <mrw/vector.hxx>
 */
-#ifdef MRW__OLD_PRE11_COMPILER
-template <typename T, typename A>
-std::vector<T, A> operator>>(std::vector<T, A> l, T& o)
-    throw(std::exception) {
-  typename std::vector<T, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
-  if (it==l.end())
-    throw mrw::length_error(std::string(__FILE__ ":")+__LINE__+
-                            ": std::vector<>& operator>>(std::vector<>&, T&),"
-                            " vector is empty");
-  o = *it;
-  l.erase(it);
-  return l;
-}
-#else
 template <typename T, typename A>
-std::vector<T, A>&& operator>>(std::vector<T, A>&& l, T& o)
+std::vector<T, A>& operator>>(std::vector<T, A>& l, T& o)
     throw(std::exception) {
   typename std::vector<T, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
   if (it==l.end())
@@ -109,7 +86,6 @@ std::vector<T, A>&& operator>>(std::vector<T, A>&& l, T& o)
   l.erase(it);
   return l;
 }
-#endif
 //@}
 //@}