According to Edith Reiter's 2014 book this instrument was completed on 1 August 1980 and originally sold to a buyer in the UK.
Howe & Hurd (2004) describe heckelphone #4978 as a model 36i.
As of 2004, heckelphone #4978 was reported to be located in Sydney, Australia, and owned by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Further details on the history of heckelphone #4978 remain unclear.