What was the max main breaker size for #4 TW serving the entire house built around the late 50's to 60's.
In the 1959 NEC, Allowable Current-Carrying Capacities were laid out in four tables, Table 310-12, 310-13, 310-14 and 310-15.
I'll assume the TW in the house you are asking about is copper. That limits one, under the 1959 NEC, to Table 310-12 copper "not more than three conductors in raceway or cable or direct burial." #4 TW ( 60?C wet or dry) is rated for 70 Amps. Period.
The only place the 1959 NEC even comes close to the modern 2008 NEC 310.15(B)(6) sizing is only in an * (asterisk) note on certain sizes of aluminum conductors of certain insulation types in the 1959 Table 310-14. Table 310-14 was aluminum "not more than three conductors in raceway or cable or direct burial." #2 T
HW was rated in the table at 90 Amps, with an asterisk and a note saying that a three wire, single phase service #2 could supply 100 Amps.
For comparison, that same table (310-14) states that #2 Al, not more than three conductors,
TW was rated for 75 Amps.