I won't be much help...my ironing board is about a 1925 model...My mom got it from Good Will after she a dad married in 1939. It's wood construction and narrow and I love it. It's the only one I've ever known..."it's FAMILY".
DH made me an 18" square board to lay over the top with two 1" x 1" stabilizer boards that fit on either side of the top for my applique' work.
I have often thought about buying a new ironing board, but I love mine so much and it's not too wide for garments (upper sleeves and etc) to fit over the end and press without getting out the sleeve board that my darling dad made me one year for my birthday....it is also a little bit narroweer than the newer ones and it "perfect" for my needs as well!
Good luck with your search and sewing.