Sven,
Edison base FUSE holders, used to have a slightly different configuration than the bulb holders. Same thread though. An old fuse holder had the little "button" spot for the buss side of the fuse, and it nearly overlapped the screw shell side, which is, of course the load. EASY, put a penny, or other coin (not good to use nickels, when they used real nickel, it tended to get hot under load) and screw the burned fuse over it, it usually had no problem making contact.
As for the wire clipped on both ends......... that REALLY worries you when it's a 7,200 or 19,900 volt fuse, but hey, the American Electricians Handbood still lists the amperage a conductor will "fuse" at, but I don't have the book with me to give the section.
The first fuse was a piece of wire between two binding posts. I have removed these old panels, wish I had kept one now, just for show and tell, and ya just had to be careful not to use too big a piece of wire. Can still be handy in a true emergency.
