We felt if we executed the design well, both in the way it looked and the way it sounded, we could probably sell enough of them to bootstrap a company that manufactures an entire line of solar-powered gift items. The first step was to build a working prototype to demonstrate feasibility. I worked on the electronics and mechanical design while my brother worked up some preliminary external design ideas. At this point the real work began. Also, get a set of Thomas Register .
New ones are expensive, but many companies throw out old sets yearly.
Check with your present employer or ask friends to check with theirs to see if you can get an old set. Although they will be dated, most of the information is good. My 1987 set still gets plenty of use. If you're totally unfamiliar with purchasing and requesting quotes, get help. We worked out of our homes while we finalized the design and lined up suppliers.