Question for you bat experts out there...

[steve B]

Wood finishes can be variable depending on how they were mixed. A bit more finish, a bit less thinner, and it won't have the same color.

Some finishes and most older ones darken with age, so the color we see today isn't how they looked in the 20's. That aging also varies by the finish and storage conditions. Wrapped in soft cloth in a nice climate controlled situation - Not as much darkening. Stuffed in the rafters of a barn, or in a sunny window of an attic with big temperature swings - Lots of color change.

Some woods also change with time and light exposure, but I don't think any of them are used for bats. (unfinished Cherry will change in about a week or so in the sun, don't leave the table legs on the tabletop over the week waiting to finish the project without a dark tarp over it.)

Steve B