In the old days (years that ended with BC), wood was the prefered material. Hard balsa and dowels were both used with the metal ends over lapping the wood by an inch and wrapped in thread and glue. Later improvements added heat shrink tubing or even wraps of monocote to replace the thread and glue.

The main advantage to wood was temperature stability when comparied to Nyrod. Your trims didn't change as the day warmed up.

Oh as to the date BC, that's (Before Carbon).