Some old school mountain bike frames can work, assuming they have semi-vertical drop-outs or you don't mind a tensioner. These can be had for pretty cheap and the brakes on these bikes I find are usually better than what you get with "vintage" ten speeds. Also ten-speed bikes are 27 inch wheel territory which are no longer made by anyone outside of someone's basement, whereas 26" wheels are much cheaper and easier to find. I commute on a SS MTB and like it a lot, but my commute is pretty short.