Recyclers are def the way to go if you got one close.
As to making many parts, they're def easier with a CNC, but I'm sure there were likely tricks they used back in the day.
Sometimes I see someone do some trick with woodworking I never knew about and it's like a mindblowing moment because it's something that I would normally think would take quite a bit of effort, and they do it in a few minutes, or even seconds.