If wire-nuts came into use sometime in the 1950s, then no prizes for guessing my next quetion. What was used before? Some other type of connector, or soldered and taped joints?
Electure:
The "chocolate block" connector. Imagine a small plated brass tube, about a half inch long. Wires are slid into the tube and two screws tapped through the wall at either end clamp the wires in place. The tube is enclosed by a plastic surround which has two round extensions to cover the heads of the screws. They are usually supplied in strips of 10 or 12 with th plastic molding linking hem together. You can cut off one, two, or as many as needed in one strip. Originally the plastic was dark brown (hence "chocolate block"), but these days most are a clear translucent plastic. The come in different sizes, like wire nuts.
Bill:
In Australia and New Zealand they use plugs which have 3 flat blades similar to those on U.S. plugs. Their outlets are oriented with the ground at the bottom.
