Mystery solved. It was a radio. Wooden.

Barn-fresh, whic in this case means it sat under an intermittenbt drip from
November to May or june most years, which left a woderful patina of fat,
furry rust on the chassis and speaker, while gently delaminating the top,
leaving a soft, squishy surface.

But I -did- pick up that nifty Viking..

Oh, the mkae of the console was Serenader, a house brand of Simpson's Canada
made by Electrohome, in Kitchener, Ontario.

Extra Points to those who can tell me the name of the City of Kitchener,
BEFORE World War I.