Thank you all for your help and info-what has thrown me slightly off track is the work done by each seal!On a few classic English cars of the 1930's i.e Lagondas /Invictas to name a couple the axle is designed so that a small amount of oil is allowed down the axle tubes to lubricate the hub bearings any excess is funneled away from the braking system and is allowed to run off at the rear of the backplate.From what you are saying is that the oil in the differential is contained by the 2 leather seals and the grease from the bearings by the felt seals-the diff oil is not designed in anyway to help lubricate the hub/brake drum bearings???? I imagine that the leather seals have long perished as the car has been immobile for many years in a museum in Switzerland,and the restorer of the car didnt go to the lengths of checking or replacing them. If the above is correct can I at least make a temporary repair by replacing the existing open ball races in the brake drum by a modern replacement 'Sealed for life' bearing??? Then if any oil finds its way down the axle tube(trumpet) it cannot find an escape route through the bearing,through the, at the moment , non existant felt seal and onto the brake shoes !!! Feed back please. (By the way I live in the South of France and earn a living helping to maintain and repair vintage and classic cars in this area-the owner of the Cadillac has also in his stable 1939 4 1/4 litre Bentley,1964(ish)AC Cobra Mk 11,and a 1932 Low Chassis 4 1/2 litre Low Chassis Invicta).