Short answers, pulled from the story.
The modern oboe known as the hautbois emerged in France during the 17th century. Circumstantial evidence points to members of the Philidor and Hotteterre families as potential inventors of this instrument.
The commonly accepted range for the oboe extends from B3 to about G6 over two and a half octaves. The common tessitura lies from C4 to E6.
The modern standard oboe is most commonly made from grenadilla also known as African blackwood. Some manufacturers also make oboes out of other species of the genus Dalbergia which includes cocobolo rosewood and violetwood.
The oboe is widely recognized as the instrument that tunes the orchestra with its distinctive A. The pitch is secure and its penetrating sound makes it ideal for tuning.
The cor anglais or English horn is the alto member of the family and is pitched in F a perfect fifth lower than the oboe. The oboe d'amore is the mezzo-soprano member of the family and is pitched in A a minor third lower than the oboe.