A practical way to research global pre-dreadnought numbers

Where can a researcher find global pre-dreadnought numbers around 1896?

Define what counts as a pre-dreadnought first, then use broad reference pages to locate and follow the underlying sources.

No single source will settle the worldwide number of pre-dreadnoughts because the category itself is contested. The researcher should define what qualifies before attempting a count. Broad reference pages can serve as routes into their citations rather than as final authorities. A later follow-up identifies Jane's and Brassey's as useful starting points and again recommends the source lists assembled by careful reference-page editors.