:::::Well, if the conductor does require an exact pitch, the point is that it can be done by having the oboist tune to that pitch with an electronic tuner, the location of which is irrelevant. I have played in orchestras where as long as the oboists A sounds good, it goes, and others where a specific frequency is mandated. And as far as violinist tuning to an electronic tuner, maybe my wording was off. By 'electronic tuner,' what I actually meant was that most violinists tune to a metronome- or tuner-generated tone. I am basing this on the same "original research" as you - both me and most violinists I know tune to a generated tone. Most likely, neither of us know the actual habits of every violinist in the world. To my best knowledge, no survey has ever been taken.