It's interesting to have him use existing materials at hand to anticipate future technologies. The Wild Wild West TV show did this, and of course MacGyver was an expert at using whatever was at hand to develop some awesome weapon or bomb. Murdoch sounds like it combines these elements with a more serious detective plot.
I also like interweaving real historical figures into the story. Historical fiction with a lot of fact is something I like.
The best was when they used pencil, paper and a grid to get a photograph wired from London.