Abstract: A two electrode probe is lowered into a vessel and the electrodes are electrically interconnected by liquid steel; the resistance condition then existing is ascertained as reference value against which subsequent resistance measurements are referenced as the probe is lifted from the vessel. The traversal of the slag-liquid metal interface causes a relative resistance change permitting selection of a threshold level that is independent from other measuring and operating parameters. The threshold device operates a counter in that for example forward and reverse counting tracks the lowering and lifting of the probe, but counting is halted when the interface level is reached, the count state then indicating the spacing of a zero level of the probe position from the level in which the threshold was exceeded in a particular direction.