This 17 1/8" instrument was the inspiration for his developing, after his retirement, the Tertis model viola. His hope was to create an instrument more manageable by those with smaller hands, yet with the same deep sonority of his Montagnana.
This 17 1/8" device inspired him to create, after retirement, a viola model similar to Tertis', designed to be more manageable by those with smaller hands, yet retaining the same rich tone quality as his Montagnana.