Shouldn’t Do This, but…

Any chance that you are in a 2 or 3 family house and are renting a created apartment? 
 

That would explain a common fuse box/ breaker panel in the basement and not one in your apartment.  
 

Lotsa luck with this one.  Good chance these were home done renovations without permits.  
 

Rich 

Wow.  I would double down on my bet on electrical work either done by the owner or by some neighborhood guy.  Most electricians would either pull out the knob & tube wiring or disconnect it.  Doubt there were permits, if work were done.

No reason to aggravate your landlord any further with mentions of code.  He knows what he has.  Work with what you have, use well grounded power strips, be safe.  Furman and Tripp make some nice ones.

I could go on about a 100 year old two bedroom apartment I rented out 20 years ago.  One outlet per room.  A four fuse, fuse box.  Replete with dumbwaiter.  

So everything is all plaster & lathe, as well?

Rich