I picked up an 80's Raleigh Tourist. It originally had 2 rod brakes, but the rear has been converted to a cable brake. (It looks pretty easy because the rear brake is built into the hub.)

The front brake looks a little trickier. Grips up under the front rim.

From what I've read I'd need to get a different rim to attach another brake system, but the tires are 28x1-1/2 which are already next to impossible to find in North America.

Does anyone else have any ideas that would work on this? Maybe a disc brake?