The compensating level with horizontal circle was made around 1960. The instrument is a perfect copy of the legendary first Zeiss Oberkochen Ni 2 compensating level from 1951 (record no. 75), which is considered the world's first compensating level. The compensator in levels represents a major technological advantage over level with levelling toric levels. A micrometer with a plane parallel plate can be attached to the telescope to measure part of the graduation unit of the staff division, significantly increasing the precision of the measurement. The shape of the crosshairs is adapted to this.

The instrument has a protected glass horizontal circle with a division where the angular value can be determined to 1'. In addition to optical distance measurement, the instrument can also be used for detailed measurements.

The instrument is in excellent condition, as it has been little used for teaching purposes.