My first eblay acquisition. Hopefully in the mail on the way to me. I saw on the web where the 500's were made from '57 to '68 I believe. Is there anyway to tell it's age more exactly? Thanks. (hope the pic shows up.)
Check the Shape Numbers. If the pipe has a 4-digit shape number, the pipe is probably of "pre-1936" vintage. If the pipe has a 4-digit shape number and does not have the threaded fitment, it is probably from before 1925.
The pre-WWII Kaywoodies had elongated white cloverleaf logos and large screw-in fitments (with the possible exception of the pre-1925 and "export" Kaywoodies, which had no fitments).
Some of the pre-1936 Kaywoodies were stamped (on the shank) with a cloverleaf around KBB. Sometime between 1936 and 1947, the better pipes were marked with a black cloverleaf inside a white dot. However, because many of the pipes in the 1968-69 catalog still show this type of logo, the black-in-white logo merely indicates a "post 1936" vintage.
The cloverleaf logo: the round logo (black cloverleaf in white circle or white cloverleaf in black circle) was first used in 1937. Up until the late 40's this logo was used on all of the upper grades pipes. The concomitant use of the plain white cloverleaf and the disk inlaid logo continued untill the early 80's.
Up until the late 1940's/mid 50's, the logo was on top of the stem. After that the logo was moved to the side of the stem.
Current (Italian-made) Kaywoodies have the "white outline" logo.