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Tri-Compax: Dash vs. Space vs. No Gap/Space?

  1. wbfondren Jun 16, 2017

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    Hello all,

    I've seen different short posts about this topic all throughout the Forum and just wanted to centralize it and (hopefully) get a definitive answer.

    Should 1940s Tri-Compax's have a dash ( TRI-COMPAX ), a gap ( TRI COMPAX ), or no gap at all ( TRICOMPAX )? Which of these are accepted as original?

    I have seen plenty of dashed and gaped Tri-Compax's that are all believed to be original (by most of you on this forum), and recently I've just seen a Tri-Compax with no gap and no dash.

    This watch is a 22536 with a 287cal in 36.5mm. The serial, 959210, puts the watch in 1943 so it's among the earliest of Tri-Compax's. As you can see, it has no dash and no gap, simply spelling TRICOMPAX. The rest of the dial looks good to me, but I can't seem to find a definitive answer about the name itself.

    So, what is acceptable and what is not? Are they redials or service dials?

    I look forward to hopefully finding the answer.

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    ELV web likes this.
  2. Florent Jun 16, 2017

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    My though is original dial. No gap at all is a possible variant ...

    1944-Universal-tricompax.jpg
     
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  3. Mlafra Jun 17, 2017

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    That dial is original and, moreover, correctly used in one of the very first Tri-Compax, what is belived to be some sort of pre=production batch one in 1943 before the official launch at the Basel fair in 1944 when the Tri-Compax was officilaly intriduced to the world.
    With this one I have seen a total of 3 of these "TRICOMPAX" without dash and without gap and all of them fall in this tight serial numbers range.
    The most typical is the type with the dash.
    The type with the gap are believed to be original but service UG dials from the 60s or 70s or so, and they usually are not too big and with tritium dots.
     
    Dgercp, wbfondren and Vitezi like this.
  4. Mlafra Jun 17, 2017

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    Another way to identify these very early "pre-production" Tri-Compaxes is by the fact that date/moon-phase corrector pushers are not flush with the case but they protude out of it, as also correctly in this example and, from what I can see, also in the one of the photo/print posted by UGFan
     
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  5. Larry S Color Commentator for the Hyperbole. Jun 17, 2017

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    Looks like a buy for the right number.
     
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  6. bgrisso Jun 17, 2017

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    Would you relume the hour hand? I think I would.
     
  7. Larry S Color Commentator for the Hyperbole. Jun 17, 2017

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    I would have hands done with " aged" lume I think. It's a significant watch though. Not sure what the puristas would say.
     
  8. Florent Jun 17, 2017

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    I would relume with vintage lume ! :)
     
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  9. Mlafra Jun 17, 2017

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    relume with a vintage lume no doubt!
     
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  10. Traveler Jun 21, 2017

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    I think I just bought one of these ... it needs a service, as its got a bit of a chrono reset problem, and as stated by the seller, the case was polished. A shame, but it's been nicely done, and at least they didn't touch the dial and hands. This is not in my usual wheelhouse, and the only thing I know about them is what I have read in this thread, so I could be wrong. But if so, it wasn't too expensive, and I really like it anyway ... please chime in with any thoughts ...

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  11. bgrisso Jun 21, 2017

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    Looks ok aside from chrono reset although would be nice to see with natural colors, is that some kind of filter effect on a phone? How much is not too expensive?
     
  12. Traveler Jun 21, 2017

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    Nope that's taken by my window in NY at dusk
     
  13. Larry S Color Commentator for the Hyperbole. Jun 21, 2017

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    Nice. Trip to the spa is in order for a movement service.
     
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  14. Mlafra Jun 22, 2017

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    Nice one, looks all correct to me
     
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  15. Traveler Jun 22, 2017

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    Morning after shot...

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    Edited Jun 22, 2017
  16. wbfondren Jun 22, 2017

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    Very cool, glad you're enjoying it!
     
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  17. TexOmega Jun 22, 2017

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    Very early Very nice example. Get out of NY;) and take a few pix and post for posterity. Not many around like yours.
     
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  18. Traveler Jun 24, 2017

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    Well I didn't get out of NY, but I got out of the apartment .... photos for posterity :

    IMG_8534.JPG IMG_8536.JPG IMG_8537.JPG IMG_8538.JPG IMG_8539.JPG IMG_8540.JPG IMG_8541.JPG IMG_8542.JPG IMG_8544.JPG IMG_8545.JPG
     
  19. Larry S Color Commentator for the Hyperbole. Jun 24, 2017

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    Traveler likes this.
  20. TexOmega Jun 24, 2017

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    WOW what a fantabulous example.
     
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