I don't think anyone answered this one:

1700-1800 - The invention of the tuning fork saves piano tuners' from a life of misery.

TRUE

Not sure it saved them from a life of misery or not, but at least after 1711, according to two sources I found online, they would have had avaiable a tuning fork, with the first one invented by Royal trumpeter John Shore in 1711, about the same time as Cristofori invented the first piano.

John Shore was also lutenist in the Chapel Royal.

Also interesting to note, is that the pitch changed quite a bit from then 'til now, so tuners would have had to keep up with the times or they would be miserable!**BG**

Great thread!

kat