Barry - my experience with the 300SD is that it is engineered to be worked on easily; lot of thought went in to making repairs as easy as possible for the mechanic (me). Assumed the same was true for a German Becker radio. Since this one is so old - 1981- before computers, etc. perhaps it does not have the stacked elements that you dislike and is a fairly simple radio. I am surprised that the middle lamp replacement would be so difficult.

On the other hand do you know anyone in Atlanta who might replace the lamp?

Actually I would enjoy tearing into it but fear it might never work again - like my vac pump. That would not be good. But I am tempted.