| Brand: | Universal | 
|
|---|---|---|
| Family: | ||
| Height: | 7.15 mm | |
| Jewels: | 17 | |
| Reserve: | 36 hours | |
| Frequency: | 18000 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 | |
| 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 “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.
