The W designation appeared in the 7th edition AISC manual in 1970.
You can download a spreadsheet from the AISC website that has all of the shapes from then until now. Using that tool, you can determine which new beam suitably matches the old one.
My first printing, second edition AISC manual, dated 1/1934, calls for A9 steel for buildings and A7 steel for bridges (both 60 to 72ksi UTS). I don't have a first edition at my office, so I can't confirm beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was in effect in 1930.
If you "heard" it on the internet, it's guilty until proven innocent. - DCS