If I wanted to fit 8 speed ergos, I would; what I'm after is 8 speed shifting with the 2nd generation units (of which I don't yet own a set).
And when I say bust, I mean crash damaged. I have such a pair of 8 speed ergos (alloy body broken in two but working internals) but have already used the index gear and ratchet ring to convert some 'pointy' Athena 9 speeds to 8 (for your old fluted Cromor frame, as it happens). If something inside is kaput it's usually wear to the 'G' springs, although I've found these can be resuscitated by judicious bending.
There must be hundreds (thousands) of unwanted 8 speed ratchet gears from folk who have upgraded to 9 speed in the past. Stupidly, I'll probably end up buying both 8 AND 9 speed ergos to make one logical combination (which I'll sell) and one illogical one (for me).