The balance on display is a composite beam balance made up of two yokes. On the lower yoke, on which the counterweight slides, is engraved the main scale with divisions from 1 to 9. On the upper yoke a vernier scale is engraved, with divisions from 1 to 9 each divided into twenty parts. There is also a small counterweight on the vernier scale.
The vernier yoke is supported by an iron blade on the left-hand brass column and the lower yoke rests on the right column; the yokes are connected to each other on the left side by an iron rod. On this connecting rod there is a hook for suspension of the ratio weight that allows the scale’s capacity to be increased by an appropriate factor.