I had thought that in the original certification of the 707 it was up to near 180lbs
It was...with the parallel yaw damper engaged.
These aircraft were certificated under CAR4B, where the requirement of a max rudder pedal force of 150 pounds was noted...hence, yaw damper OFF for takeoff and landing.
The 35 foot screen height (versus 50 feet for pistons/turboprops) was part and parcel of these old airplanes...the runways were too short to achieve 50 feet, so 35 was in the cards from the beginning.
A known fact by those that were around at the time.