Is there any easy way to test a bunch of ceiling fans without having to take an existing install out of the ceiling and replace it with each one?

For some background, ceiling fans have been a hyperfixation for my brother in law since he was a kid. Now that he’s in college and has access to a credit card, he has apparently amassed somewhere between “30 to 50” ceiling fans from thrift stores, which has become a real problem in his small apartment.

The first step is determining which of them are even functional to begin with. I am not well versed in the electrical (or really any) side of things, and he doesn’t have much practical experience either. We could try taking an existing fan out of the ceiling and then put every single one back in test, but I was wondering if there was a better or easier way to handle it.

My initial, uninformed thought is maybe constructing some sort of small, portable thing with a ceiling box in it that we could wire the fans to, which would be easier (and less tempting gravity) than lifting to the ceiling. However, I don’t know if that’s feasible, if it is if it could just be plugged into an AC outlet to power it, or how to design or construct it. Again, I am working with very limited knowledge here.

Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!