The presented item is a simple leveling instrument; it is a type of water balance. Its main component is a brass trough, ending with plates equipped with vanes. A disk-shaped tribrach with two pillars is fixed to a tripod, the head of which is fitted with four plumb lines to level the instrument. Additional plumb lines are placed on the plates below the vanes. The tripod stand is made of wood. The level was adjusted by pulling the wooden pin on which the head is set (the locking mechanism has not been preserved). The tripod legs, fitted with metal hardware, are mounted using hinges. The tripod does not have a locking mechanism for the legs.

This surveying instrument was used to determine the elevation difference between selected points on the ground. The most critical step was leveling the device, which was made possible through the plumb lines and the adjustment screws on the tribrach and movable legs. Water was poured into the trough, and a small piece of wood was inserted.