The lever blades say "Record Titanium 9 Speed", which is why I assume they are early 9 speed. Actually I like the current Ergopower shape better, but oh well.
As for the spendy bottom bracket, as far as I am concerned most every new Record part is expensive. I plan to find the bottom bracket used.
Thanks for the information on the Thomson. It may actually look better with my frame than the Chorus will, I think. And thanks for the actuation ratio information. I may retreat back to friction after this!
On the hubs . . . is there a way to tell from a eBay seller's pictures if a "9 speed" hub is early 9 or late 9? The splines must be different? I've run across some affordable older Record hubsets where the seller doesn't know much about them, no even the generation or year.