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.
History
Primary Canon History
Ghostbusters (1984)
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.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Egon Spengler left the Ghost Sniffer on a table near his wall of degrees in his Farmhouse's underground laboratory.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
In the summer of 2024, Lars Pinfield used the Ghost Sniffer to take readings inside Nadeem's Apartment.
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
- The Ghost Nabber released by Kenner was based on the The Real Ghostbusters Specter Detector, which was the cartoon's version of the Ghost Sniffer.
Trivia
Ghostbusters (1984) 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]
IDW Comics Trivia
- On Cover B of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #3, part of the Ghost Sniffer appears.
Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Trivia
- In Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, there is a Ghost Sniffer on the table at the far side of the second floor lab in the Firehouse.
- After Patch 1.3.0., the Ghost Sniffer was removed temporarily due to a bug.
Appearances
Primary Canon Appearances
- Ghostbusters
- Ghostbusters: Afterlife
- Chapter 07
- Chapter 08
- Seen in online video only.
- Chapter 11
- Seen in online video only.
- Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Expanded Universe
- Ghostbusters
Secondary Canon Appearances
Tertiary Canon Appearances
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 Images
Secondary Canon Images
Tertiary Canon Images
Behind the Scenes Images
