Counterbalancing As seen with the early Egyptian shaduf, counterbalancing was a natural means of taking the strain off man's muscles in lifting water from the Nile. First came a force of nature -- the counterbalancing use of water, using gravity to bring the fluid back to the hydraulic cylinders. Then, accumulators were used as an equalizing force. Cars balanced one another and the counterweight in its own runway became a norm that carried through the electric era. Counterweighting was seen as a resource when steam, hydraulic or electric power was considered insufficient to alone accomplish the task at hand. Although the art of counterbalancing might well take the strain off the power unit, the additional weight on both sides of the cables, chains or ropes placed additional pressure upon these devices as well as overhead and machine sheaves, and the structural supports for the entire system.