How old is plywood?

Here's a good research question for dating instruments: When was plywood
developed, and made in large enough quantities that it would be used in a
barrel organ, organette, or whatever?

For example, since my latest barrel organ has a plywood case, does that
mean it was built after (say) 1930, or at least that some rebuilder gave
the old works an "ersatz" case after 1930?  The bottom bellows board is
plywood and looks new, while the main bed-plate is solid wood and looks
original.

(I toss out 1930 because that seems to be the turning point for plywood
usage in antique radios that I've restored.)

Also, how do folks feel about using plywood in "authentic" restorations?
The turn-of-century German originates did not use it -- instead, there
are very thin panels of very cheap wood, a la orange-crate slats.
Incredibly, the panels rarely warp, but they crack and split, and nails
and screws lose their grip in them.

This refers to both outer case side as well as inner bed-plates and
bellows boards.  Today the safe and reasonable material to use for
replacement would be good quality plywood.  It has its own problems with
splitting and delaminating, but probably takes end-grain screws and nails
better.  And it shouldn't warp.

Mike Knudsen