English Cocus 8-Key

English 8-key concert flute in cocuswood with German silver fittings, restored by Jem Hammond. The keys are stamped “A.L.,” likely from the Alexander Liddle factory (active 1847–79). Built in the Metzler-associated style often supplied by Liddle and other makers, this example is unstamped on the body.

The flute has a closed sounding length of 574.5 mm and plays in tune with period fingerings at A=440, with the tuning slide extended 15–20 mm depending on conditions and player.

Restoration included repairs to cracks in the head, barrel, upper body tenon, and lower body socket; rebuilding the long F key (touch originally broken and missing); replacing the long C key spring; resizing the E tone-hole to improve scale tuning; and a complete overhaul with new stopper cork, joint lappings, pads, and key buffering.