Looks like I'll have to do it the hard way, obtain more typewriters and see for myself.  And the Royal's colour, I'm pretty sure nobody around me could concentrate themselves with that flashy machine. And to think, they had that colour available back in the 30's. Must've been quite a shocker then. 

I've just seen this thread - somehow I have managed to acquire three Splendids - two 33s and a Danish 66 - and they are all really nice, and nice to type on. But what is really noticeable is that there is one of them - one of the 33s - that I just LOVE - it seems to come to life and work with me in a way the other two just don't - it's like, three perfectly nice people but one of them you know is a friend. It would e hard to shake a stick at what the difference is, just that one of them 'feels like me'. And that is how subjective one of those typewriter reviews may be!

As for the Olivettis, I have a perfectly serviceable 32 that I got for more than I normally pay, just out of curiosity. I'll happily sell it. And I have an ever-so-slightly stiff little 22 that, for some reason I once again can't define, I like typing on. Its keys are small but I miss them less than the 32's keys, and we just seem to get on better.