Here is an idea:
gather some low cost or free bikes;
figure out if any of the parts will bring any money on Ebay;
sell some of those parts;
take that money and buy some more low cost bikes.

My guess is that the most value-less part of a bike is the frame. Frame is also the most space-intensive part. So, strip a bike and add parts to inventory, then sell frames as scrap metal.

[The Late Great] Sheldon Brown's website remain on the web. It has a ton of info on bike parts and standards, including a lot of old stuff.