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You are here: Home / Movements / Universal 281 Tri-Compax

Universal 281 Tri-Compax

Last Update: July 1, 2019

Brand:Universal
Family:
Universal 281 Family
Height:7.15 mm
Jewels:17
Reserve:36 hours
Frequency:18,000 A/h
Winding:Hand winding
Diameter:27.80 mm (12 ligne)
  Complications:2-Button, 8-Column Chronograph, Chronograph, Column Wheel Chronograph, Date, Day, Month, Moon Phase, Quick Date Correction, Quick Month Correction
Hands:12 Hour Chronograph Hand at 6:00, 30 Minute Chronograph Hand at 3:00, Central 60 Second Chronograph Hand, Central Hour Hand, Central Minute Hand, Date Pointer at 12:00, Day Window at 10:30, Month Window at 1:30, Moon Phase Wheel at 12:00, Small Seconds Hand at 9:00
Distinguishing Technical Characteristics
Hand-Winding
Clockwise Balance Cock
8-Column Chronograph
Balance
Balance at 12:00
Column Wheel
Column Wheel at 6:00
Production:  – 
1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s

The “Tri-Compax” version of the Universal Cal. 281 is a hand-winding column wheel chronograph movement with hour and minute registers as well as a full calendar with moon phase. It has a distinctive four-subdial look.

  • Month window at 1:30 (advanced by pusher at 10:15)
  • Chronograph 30 minute counter at 3:00
  • Chronograph 12 hour counter at 6:00
  • Small seconds at 9:00
  • Day window at 10:30 (not quickset)
  • Date pointer at 12:00 (advanced by pusher at 8:00)
  • Moon phase disc at 12:00 (advanced by pusher at 9:45)

Many of the Universal Cal. 281 family were produced in different versions: The basic “Compur” or “Uni-Compax” movement features only a 30 or 45 minute chronograph counter and small seconds with two subdials, the “Compax” or “Bi-Compax” version adds a 12 hour counter with three subdials, and the “Tri-Compax” includes a full calendar and moon phase with four subdials. The “Compax” naming scheme is often confused today, with two-subdial versions often called “bi-compax” and three-subdial configurations “tri-compax” even though this is incorrect.

All Universal movements were produced in the Pellaton family factory in Les Ponts-de-Martel near Le Locle in Canton Neuchâtel. As of 1942, Universal president Raoul Pellaton was president of the company, and the factory bore the name “Universal”, but it remained an independent business. After Universal divested from the factory in the 1950s, Zenith purchased it.

Universal was also unusual in using the same name for movements with various complications. There were only three basic movements in the “golden age” Universal chronograph family: Cal. 281 (12”’ and larger), Cal. 285 (14”’ and larger), and Cal. 289 (10.5”’). Larger-diameter versions of each were numbered differently (e.g. 281, 381, 283, 383, 481) regardless of whether they featured a minute totalizer only (“Uni-Compax” of “X”), an hour counter (“Compax” or “AX”), a date (“Dato-Compax” or “DX”), or a full calendar (“Tri-Compax” or “TX”). The calibre number corresponds only to the diameter and hairspring used.

Breguet HairspringFlat Hairspring
12”’ (27.80 mm)Universal 281 Uni-Compax
Universal 281 Compax
Universal 281 Tri-Compax
Universal 381
12.25”’Universal 282
13”’ (29.50 mm)Universal 283Universal 383
13.5”’Universal 284
14”’ (31.70 mm)Universal 481
Universal 12”’ Chronograph Family
Images are taken from official publications and are used here for commentary and educational purposes. Copyright is held by the original owner as noted.

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