What wood is this?

[roger wiegand]

This is part of an organ case. Made in Belgium between 1935-1950. Probably something cheap and abundant then and there. The wood is fairly light and quite soft. The grain structure looks to me like a mahogany of some kind, but there's little if any red in the wood. It's finished with an orange or garnet shellac, giving the amber tone.

TIA for any hints of what to look at!

490016

490017

[Jim Becker]

Looks like luan to me...

[Mel Fulks]

I’m guessing birch. Some times it was used along with maple on panels etc. that would be painted . One reason for than is it doesn’t ding
up as easily as soft woods, and doesn’t have coarse grain. I have used it like that, and it was cheaper that a lot of other stuff. In your pics
it might be rotary cut plywood.

[Mel Fulks]

This just in ….birch is the most common tree in Belgium ………

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Sure looks like all the old birch cabinets and millwork that we replace.

[roger wiegand]

Downy birch, AKA European white birch certainly looks like a match! Now to find some!