Hey guys,
Sorry I'm late to this discussion.
I mentioned this style mask on page 4 of my March 2015 article on the history of the football nose mask.
http://www.antiquefootball.com/nosemask_history.htm
These sole leather face guards were introduced in the early 1920's as a replacement for the rubber nosemask. Worn primarily by linemen susceptible to nose injuries, they don't come up for sale that often because they weren't particularly popular. They were uncomfortable, hot, and limited visibility.
While also unpopular, the executioner masks that came out in the mid-1920's were a better solution for players looking for face protection as they were positioned off of the face instead of directly on it.
I may do a more extensive write up on this mask as my November Artifact of the Month article.
Chris
www.antiquefootball.com