Oldest Electric Service I Have Ever Seen

This is the electric panel in a 19th century mansion in Martinsburg, WV.  This is the oldest one I have ever seen.  It is still in use.

The service has a finished wood case with a glass door.  It looks very cool.

It is conspicuously located in the entry hall.  Unlike a modern electric service, which is usually hidden somewhere, this service is meant to be seen.  When this was installed, it would have been a prestigious thing to have electricity; something only the rich could have.

This is a 40 amp service.  Each circuit has a 5 amp fuse, curiously on both the hot and neutral wire, with a double knife switch to turn off-and-on the circuit.  Typical of old electric services, there is no provision for a ground.

We joked about tying-in to the service.  We could have powered a few practicals.  Maybe.