Nice job, it looks fantastic - that's gonna be a real head turner!
Salmon Koolstops are often recommended for steel rims, or I think leather pads were the traditional solution. I don't think you'll ever get much stopping power with old flexy calipers and steel rims though, so the auxiliary shoe brake may come in handy!
As for more info on the frame, have you tried Sheldon Brown's site, or Classic Lightweights? They're my first ports of call.