wa2ise:
The old church I referred to above had several rooms in which there was an edison socket (with a single receptacle plate, rather than the hinged brass one) about seven feet off the floor, near the door to the room. Unscrew the 30 amp fuse [Linked Image], the room light goes out. Seemed really odd, since there were also a pair of large fuse boxes (those really old ones with the exposed busses and knife switches) in the boiler room at the rear of the building.

Yes, about 99% of the fuses in these panels were 30 amp, and if I remember correctly, the conductors were only no. 14 or 12 awg.

No fires...yet.

Mike (mamills)