Classic & Vintage - Help on finishing touches on wife's bike

I picked this up last summer and stripped it down as most parts were fubar. I decided to make it a single speed city bike instead of the derailleurs and drops it originally came with. The last things I plan on purchasing for it are a set of fenders and a basket for trips to the grocery store. I was thinking a set of hammered VO fenders, better calipers/levers, and maybe a removable wicker basket for the front. I tried a rear rack but it didn't do it for me and my wife give it a big NO. I thinking of some better brackets. The Universal centerpulls that came on it worked pretty good but we have traintracks that run through our smaller town and have overpasses on every street that passes over it. So in order to get to the side of town with most of the businesses she'll have to go over the bridges. Mind you I have two smaller ones also who will be either in a trailer or child seat. I'd rather have something with some more bite with the extra weight and safety. Here's a quick picture I took of it.
Suggestions?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/dphilemon/DSCF8091.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/dphilemon/DSCF8092.jpg

Are those chromed steel rims? If so, they are known for not braking well.
The long reach tektro sidepulls work very well. Modern housing, and levers along with those calipers will stop as well as anything =)

Also, try putting new pads on the old brakes, the rubber compound on those badboys has hardened a bit in 40 years.

I've got the Kool stop pads in my Mafac's and I'm not happy with them so that's what I'd get for choices on these calipers. I was thinking of some Tektros but not sure what I would need...long reach...etc. Would I have a clearance issue with the rear caliper location? It mounts between the chain and seat stay tubes. Yes the rims on the wheels are chrome and they have those indentions on the sides of them also. The cable and housings are new on it. I built it back up as it was worse when I first got it.

The removable wicker basket for the front is a good idea for putting light things in like a hand bag.

Maybe a vintage bike bell too

I agrre on the wheels, get some nice light alloy and why not a 3sp? if your wife is going to pull a trailer onver those overpasses she might like it, along with two brakes.

Most bike-specific wicker baskets are total crap. Heavy as heck and flimsy, too. My VeloSoleX has a wicker basket I picked up at Target for about ten bucks; I modified a couple Weinmann brake lever collars to hold it in place and reinforced the assembly with a 1/8" plywood doubler to the bottom and two leather straps. It works for loads to about 12 pounds, reasonably stable and looks sharp.

Hauling kids in a trailer-I'd want some changeable speeds on that drive (at least on the back) and as earlier mentioned-2 brakes. Nice looking frame.

I didnt think about that. Try a regular dual pivot in the back, and see if it clears, if it does, roll out. if not, put the universal in the rear with some decent pads, and a dual pivot tektro up front.

If this were for my girl/children:
SA 3-5 speed in the rear laced with ukai or similar 27"
Tektro front, whatever I could fit on the back with some koolstops.
CST 27" tires and heavy duty tubes.

I hear you on the upgrading the wheels. I've got it geared pretty easy. That was mainly for her and didn't think much of the trailer part. Doh...some husband! I could do like a 1x6/7/8 setup to keep it simple. Since I built it this far and should just take the reins for rest of the build. I know it's for her and something that she should like but some things for more of a safety and a reliability standpoint.

As for fenders...I'm thinking of the hammered VO's or do you folks suggest something else? Putting some Planet Bike fenders on it would just kill it. For the basket I'm still set on something like this and it's removable but in white.
190726

VO has some on sale, id go for them.

QBP has a decent, very serviceable 27" alloy wheelset marketed by dimension IIRC, you could put a Shimano wide range freewheel and a friction/mountain 7 speed shifter on it. Very good range as far as hills and such.

Looks to be set up for cp's in the back. The basket uses a bar (removeable) hook to hold it on/not sure it would work with the centerpull set up there. Move the cp to the rear (with a longer stirrup) and put a sp on the front. Hope to see how this turns out :)

Their 20% off on all fenders ended earlier this month. My loss.

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/accessories/fenders/fender-sets/vo-48mm-fluted-aluminum-fenders-700c.html

Hanson Bike Works Classic Handmade Wood Bike Fenders
http://www.bikewagon.com/Bike-Accessories/Bike-Racks-Fenders/Fenders/Hanson-Bike-Works-Classic-p9104324-1-2.html

Nantucket Bike Basket
http://www.nantucketbikebaskets.com/

And I agree about a bell.

I picked this up last summer and stripped it down as most parts were fubar. I decided to make it a single speed city bike instead of the derailleurs and drops it originally came with. The last things I plan on purchasing for it are a set of fenders and a basket for trips to the grocery store. I was thinking a set of hammered VO fenders, better calipers/levers, and maybe a removable wicker basket for the front. I tried a rear rack but it didn't do it for me and my wife give it a big NO. I thinking of some better brackets. The Universal centerpulls that came on it worked pretty good but we have traintracks that run through our smaller town and have overpasses on every street that passes over it. So in order to get to the side of town with most of the businesses she'll have to go over the bridges. Mind you I have two smaller ones also who will be either in a trailer or child seat. I'd rather have something with some more bite with the extra weight and safety. Here's a quick picture I took of it.
Suggestions?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/dphilemon/DSCF8091.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/dphilemon/DSCF8092.jpg

I'm not digging the bent look where the top tube meets the seattube unlike traditional Mixtes where they are straight.

It's a small frame, it would almost be a double diamond if it went straight :-P