I inherited an Elburn Piano and whould like to refinish it. Does anyone know what kind of finish it had on it
Answers:
If it's an older model piano, it most likely has a varnish finish. One other type might be lacquer finish. The cracks you see in the finish, are because someone used furniture wax on it.... yep... good ole spray wax... like J&J's.
Most folks do not realize that a piano should be cleaned with a damp cloth... and ONLY a damp cloth. Anything else, and you get that buildup on the piano finish and it causes the original finish to dry out and crack.
Rather than sanding it right now... I would suggest that you take the time to just clean it.... (Im assuming you do not care about the 'resale value' -- antiques are best left untouched, even if the finish is damaged, to retain their value). Use mineral spirits, or Murphy's oil cleaners to help remove the buildup, to prevent damaging the surface. After you have all the gunk off... then you may be able to match the stain easier.
Even antique piano's, and other furniture were known to have veneers (very thin layers of a more expensive wood, over a cheaper wood)... so you must be careful with sanding... you do not want to go thru the veneer.
Clean it up first, then take a good look at it.
Have Fun!
Other answers:
It depends when it was made.
It depends when it was made.