Short answers, pulled from the story.
The oboe reappeared with the Arabic zurna in the 13th century. It evolved through European bagpipes and finally became the French hautbois in the 17th century, which is when modern oboe history truly began.
The exact date and location of origin of the hautbois are obscure, as are the inventors. Circumstantial evidence points to members of the Philidor (Filidor) and Hotteterre families, though the instrument may have had multiple inventors.
The instrument has a soprano range, usually from B3 to G6. The highest note is a semitone lower than the nominally highest note of the B flat clarinet.
Orchestras tune to a concert A played by the first oboe because the pitch is secure and its penetrating sound makes it ideal for tuning. This practice follows guidelines from the League of American Orchestras.
Only 165 heckelphones have ever been made. Competent heckelphone players are difficult to find due to the extreme rarity of this particular instrument.