Radio,s, cabinets and of course record players over time loose there warm glow, or even colour if exposed to bright sunlight over extended periods of time. The cabinets if early models in particular may well have been glued with animal glues and if exposed to damp conditions will seperate, creating additional problems. But that said timber based products are repairable in most cases. Veneers can be re-fitted and matched and the finish can be greatly improved. These days there are a number of modern finishes which work rather well, Clear Gloss finish Polyurethane is very good for every day use, resilient to alcohol and does not scratch easy. Or I can French Polish, it is all done by hand, and can be finished to either a low luster or up to what is termed in piano restoration as a mirror finish.(Highly polished).
I had a 1964 pye record player that required at first repair and the client requested if i could re-polish the mahogony veneers, this was untertaken to create a period finish reflecting the age rather than a brand new in your face look, the photo's will identify the process.
The first photo is where the colour has been totaly bleached out.