The Ghost Sniffer was said by Peter Venkman to be one of their little toys. However, this device samples the air for ghost activity as it is a form of detection equipment. In reality, it is a Bacharach model 300 sniffer combustible gas detecting device.
Contents
History
Ghostbusters
The Ghost Sniffer device was used twice during the Gozer incident of 1984, once with Ray Stantz in the ad "We're Ready to Believe You" and with Peter while checking out Dana's Apartment. When Dana asks if he was using the device correctly, Peter wasn't 100% certain that he was.
Secondary Canon History
IDW Comics
Peter used the Ghost Sniffer during a pro bono case that involved Alan Crendall and Slimer. A few months later, during summer, Peter used it during a week long investigation in Roswell. The next year, Ray used it in Bushwick on the Day of the Dead to take readings of concentrated, benign spectral activity for psychokinetic pattern research. During a dimensional overlap, Abby Yates used the Ghost Sniffer in conjunction with wearing a Long-Range P.K.E. Scanner to take readings in Lower Manhattan with Egon and discovered highly energized Ley Lines.
Toys
- Ghost Sniffer was released by Kenner as a toy named Ghost Nabber in Weapon Action Figure Toys 5
Trivia
- Ivan Reitman asked the prop department to come up with various real detection devices, including one to detect various gases. Bill Murray later went to the prop table and ended up choosing the Ghost Sniffer for the scene in Dana's apartment.[1]
- In the Ghostbusters: Storybook, the Sniffer is referred to as a detector rod. It is also noted to be attached to a P.K.E. Meter within the unit.[2][3]
- On Cover B of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #3, part of the Ghost Sniffer appears.
Appearances
Primary Canon
Secondary Canon
- Ghostbusters
References
- ↑ Ivan Reitman (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 24:52-25:07). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Ivan Reitman says: "The prop department--I asked the prop department to come up with various real objects that are used to detect various gas leaks and things like that. And Bill went up to this sort of prop table and chose his sort of favorite, most comedy inducing prop."
- ↑ Digsby, Ann (1984). Ghostbusters: Storybook, p. 17. Scholastic Inc., New York NY USA, ISBN 0590336843.
- ↑ Ghostbusters: Storybook Page 17
- ↑ Ghostbusters 101 Class Notes (2017). IDW Comics- "Ghostbusters 101 #4" (2017) (Comic p.23). Ghostbusters 101 Class Notes reads: "There are many tools available to us in this line of work, from devices that have been repurposed for paranormal investigation (such as the bacharach series of combustion analyzers) to equipment we've built from scratch, as well as assorted prototypes developed either when new situations call for it or as technological breakthroughs are made."
Gallery
Primary Canon
Secondary Canon
Behind the Scenes
