Well, coming from a 108-year old midwest Victorian, I have to say that for 28 years we had completely satisfactory experiences with ~

knob and tube wiring
hot water radiators, some 8' long by 3' high
gravity-fed cast iron furnace, that took up it's own large room in the basement
porcelain 1" kitchen floor tiles and
fireclay farm sink

All these were original to the house, and all worked heroically with (I think this is true) no maintenance at all! won't repeat any but the last two, though.