Have a Crosley 02CA console. I am considering a refinish, but would like to know if the 'burled' wood pieces are real veneer, or is it a 'fake' veneer. I know some of the companies used an early form of photo wood finishes back then. Here's pic off the net of a good example....

I also would like some tips/tricks on refinishing the burled areas in case it turns out to be 'photo' wood finish

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Almost certainly the burled strip and the grain-matched vertical grill bars are faux wood. If you examine the "wood" close up with a magnifying glass and observe that the pattern is made up of tiny dots, it's fake. Real wood looks like wood no matter what the magnification.