Chewy - I just noticed this thread, but Chop provided a link to a previous thread about my Bob Jackson World Tour. The BJ WT would make a great touring or brevet bike. Aside from the Surly LHT, it is one of the few stock frames that is specifically designed for touring. It has mounts and braze-ons for almost anything you could want -- front and rear racks, front and rear fenders, 3 water bottles, canti brakes.

You might also consider the BJ Audax End-End model, which is similar to the WT but takes long-reach cantilever brakes. You would need to custom order your BJ unless you are willing to compromise on some of the specs (such as concealed top tube cable). I ordered my ST "off the peg" and it took about 2 months to receive. For a custom order, you can probably count on waiting at least 6 months and probably longer.

You can order a WT with either 130 or 135 mm spacing. Since you already have 135 wheels, it would make sense to go that route, and the bike would be more suitable for loaded touring. I got mine with 130 spacing because I already had wheels in that size and plan to use my bike for commuting mostly.

Just out of curiosity ... why do you want full chrome treatment? Do you just like the look? That would increase the final price by a lot.

I really like the cantilever brakes. They have more stopping power than caliper brakes, particularly in the rain. Disc brakes could pose problems for a touring bike. First, it would be harder to find a rear rack that will fit a frame with discs. Second, it would be harder to fix if you have mechanical problems on the road.