Anyone know much about drum brakes?

I have a dutch Gazelle with drum brakes, which in principle I really like. However the front drum is really at the end of it's life, it needs new cones, balls and probably cups too.
I use it to do 100 miles a week commuting so really it needs to be good.
I've seen a similar, externally almost identical hub on another Gazelle with cartridge bearings and ideally would really like to get hold of a second hand wheel with those in.

I'm not that keen on buying a new Sturmey Archer drum hub as:

1. They look to have the reaction arm mounted on the opposite fork -
   though it may be I can just turn it round but I doubt it is a simple
   as that.
   
2. The cost of a new hub isn't super cheap (£80 ish) and
   then there's also the cost of building it into a new wheel.
   
3. I haven't found the brakes to be amazing. I'm not sure if this is because mine is old and worn or if all drum brakes are going to be like this. But it is enough of a concern i don;t want to go blowing over £100 on a front wheel if the braking is still average.
   
   

I'd like to try out a better second hand wheel - try before you buy! before I spent money on a new setup.
But I can't find anyone selling second hand front drum hubs or wheels. I have tried several bike shops but drum brakes seem to be a bit of a specialty and few places I've tried rate them or know much about them.

Does anyone know where either:
I might get spares for my wheel,
-or-
Someone who has hoards of dutch bike bits and might sell me a wheel or hub?

My alternative plan is to fit a disc brake. It's a lot more involved but with some custom machined parts that I can make and some custom forks - which will be expensive, I have got a plan to use a juin tech hydraulic disc operated off the rod brakes. Keeping it all looking fairly traditional but meaning I have spent money on a brake set up that will stop.

I have found out that most of the new sturmey hubs use 1/4 inch size ball bearings (6.35mm but rounded up to 6.4mm).
The hub I have uses an older design with 3/16th balls (4.76mm rounded up to 4,8mm)
The cone I need is HSB267 which doesn't seem to be available any more

Drum brake are generally bad but they have their cool factor like less maintenance and you never reall need to think about them unless its an emergency stop. Most cycle shops wont know much about them as they generally require f.a maintenance so no need for them to know.

But speak to Cycle Division 01484665055. They keep a huge range of spare parts. They Most likely won't sell direct but they can give you the info and then you can order whatever you need from a cycle shop. I think they have compete wheels as well.

My Sturmey front drum brake is squealing quite badly. I've dismantled it, cleaned it out, sanded the shoes a bit to take the glaze off, it seemed a bit better...for about 5 minutes.

Any ideas?

unless they're are very new the chances are they have worn down to the point that they are just now going to be squeaky until you change them for new shoes. I had this on my rear brake for ages. It still worked fine but squealed like crazy, it was actually a good alternative to a bell!! but after a few too many comments from other cyclists and motorists I changed the shoes and the squeal went away

They're definitely not very new but they looked like they had plenty of meat on them.

Disappointing lifespan if they do need changing already. My 1955 Matchless has what I suspect are the original shoes still fitted!