Anglo/Saxon Riddle

Rocco D’Ambrosca: 10/17/2005

My origins are     broadly disputed
But I have been      widely in use,
over the past     century and,
 will continue to be     for many to come.
I have been     called by many,
 the voice of     a generation.
I come in     many colors,
although red and black     are most common.
I have had     many variations,
but have always had     at least two major ones.
I am crafted by carpenters with caring caress.
I have mostly been     made of wood,
although many dispute     which grain is best.
I have also always had     metal riddled through me.
Many metal bars are     melded across my face.
I also have metal that     spans across my length.
Tellers of tall tales have     used me to tell their tales.
I have always been known     as a teller of tales.