I was helping my brother in the 50's. He put a 200 amp. service in his house and everyone thought he was crazy. 200 was for factories. the biggest for a house was 100 amp.
Chicago area all wiring was in conduit. For rewires we used armored cable. Steel jacketed. Still have scars on my leg from cutting it with a hack saw. Had to remember the "red Devil" bushing at each connector. If I couldn't remember I had to take it apart and do it again. Soldered and taped all joints. Brush, flux, solder, rubber tape, friction/cloth tape. New job, no electricity: get out the sterno cans and solid irons. Light them up and go to breakfast. Come back and they would be hot.
How about being a helper in Tesla's lab in New York or when he moved West ? That would be worth a time trip.
