Refinishing Slat bench  

As a type..
I see these slatted benches MUCH more often in the US than in Europe

I wonder if all
of these descend from George Nelson's original -- or if there were examples from elsewhere that go back even further.
This one seems a nice and simple solution. (The leg battens might or might not be original to the piece ? Just a couple of screws would do wonders for tightening it up.)
In' the 'fifties a high-school friend -- no woodworker, surely -- made himself a slat bench for his bedroom -- with four 2x4s ! We were all budding modernists, then . . .
Cody, a close-up photo of the ends of the slats -- in sharp focus -- would help in identifying the specie.

I don't get this place.
Peop...
I don't get this place.
People come here asking for help identifying interesting furniture and they dont get a single response.
Meanwhile some dude asks for help refinishing a very low end bench worth no more than $80 bucks and the thread gets over 16 responses.
No wonder everyone is migrating over to the D-Vintage forums.

Perhaps
people don't know what the furniture is?
I, for one, identify things whenever I can