We never had stuff like that here, but we did have other wild stuff, like NyrUzi (please don't ask me about the upper/lower case, these should be harmonised codes), called "covered pipe wire". Basically two wires isolated with rubber and cloth, a filler that looks like several thin strands of sisal rope, everything wrapped in kraft paper and an outer sheathing made of brass. Outer thickness similar to modern NYM cable. Used for surface-mount work in finished areas. Horrible stuff, since neither the rubber nor the cloth hold up too well. Unlike the classic rag wire that was used for conduit work the cloth wasn't woven around the rubber but simply fabric wrapped around and the rubber was definitely of far inferior quality too. Then there was the heavy-duty version of this. Same interior design, but more filler, more paper. And around the brass an additional layer of very solidly woven cloth that had been drenched with bitumen. About as thick as my thumb, but actually easier to bend as the thin stuff (for the thin stuff you need a Bergmann conduit bender, the big stuff has huge minimum bendiing radii but can be bent without tools). And last not least I've recently seen some lead sheathed cable. Im'not sure though whether it's power or telecommunications, the apartment house I've seen it in also holds a telephone patch panel for at least four or five blocks... it's located in the hallway that leads to the basement and the trash cans in the yard and not locked any more... everything old as hell and every connection nicely labeled with street and number... so if you don't like somebody you know where to go... [Linked Image]

Old underground feeders are even bigger. Bare wires cast in bitumen with an outer covering off bituminated rope. Still used in some places, you can see it running on the basement walls from the service to the main panel. 1-1 1/2" thick... for a maybe 10mm2 (or maybe even 6mm2) feeder...