Exhibit (a)(5)(A)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For Further Information
Contact:  Angela D. Toppi
Executive Vice President & CFO
203/853-4321




             Trans-Lux Announces Commencement of Exchange Offer for
                  7 1/2% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2006

NORWALK, CT, March 2, 2004 - Trans-Lux Corporation (AMEX:TLX), a leading
supplier of programmable electronic information displays and owner/operator of
cinemas, announced it commenced its Exchange Offer today, pursuant to which
Trans-Lux Corporation (the "Company") is offering to exchange (the "Exchange
Offer") $1,000 principal amount of its new 8 1/4% Limited Convertible Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2012 ("New Notes") for each $1,000 principal amount of
its 7 1/2% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2006 ("Old Notes").  The offer
will be for up to $15,000,000 principal amount, or 49.7% of the $30,177,000
principal amount outstanding of the Old Notes.  If more than $15,000,000
principal amount of the Old Notes are tendered, all tenders will be accepted pro
rata unless the Company elects to accept all such tendered Old Notes.  If less
than $4,000,000 principal amount of the Old Notes are tendered, the Company
reserves the right to either accept or reject such lesser tendered amount.

The New Notes will also be senior to the Old Notes and the Company's 9 1/2%
Subordinated Notes due 2012.  In general terms, the New Notes will pay a higher
interest rate than the Old Notes, a longer maturity, a later call date, a lower
conversion price of $9.00 per share compared to the conversion price of $14.013
per share of the Old Notes, and be convertible into Common Stock through March
1, 2007 (which is after the maturity date of the Old Notes, but prior to the
maturity date of the New Notes).  Application will be made to list the New Notes
on the American Stock Exchange.



It should be noted that directors of the Company who hold an aggregate of
$110,000 Old Notes have indicated that they will accept the Exchange Offer.

The Exchange Offer is voluntary on a Noteholder's part.  The Company believes no
taxable gain or loss will be recognized by any Noteholder who accepts the
Exchange Offer.  Full details of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer
will be contained in the Offering Circular being sent to Noteholders today.

Consummation of the Exchange Offer, which expires March 31, 2004, and issuance
of the New Notes are subject to various conditions as described in the Offering
Circular.  Holders may withdraw their tenders at any time prior to 5:00 P.M.,
New York City time, on March 31, 2004 and at any time after April 23, 2004 if
they have not been accepted by such date.

This announcement is not an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to
purchase with respect to any securities.  The offer is made solely by, and
subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Offering Circular and the
related Letter of Transmittal which should be read carefully by Noteholders
before making any decision with respect to the Exchange Offer because they
contain important information.  The Offering Circular, the related Letter of
Transmittal and certain other documents will be sent to all Holders of Old
Notes, at no expense to them.  The Tender Offer statement (including the
Offering Circular, the related Letter of Transmittal and all other Offer
documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) is also available
at no charge at the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at
http://www.sec.gov.  Holders of the Notes can also obtain copies of the Offering
Circular, the related Letter of Transmittal and other documents sent to Holders
from the Company from Ms.  Angela D.  Toppi, Executive Vice President and
Secretary by calling the Company at (203) 853-4321 or email at
atoppi@trans.lux.com.

Trans-Lux Corporation is not making any recommendations as to whether or not
Holders should exchange their Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, and no
one has been authorized by it to make any such recommendations.  Holders must
make their own decisions as to whether to



consent to the proposed exchange for the Old Notes, and, if so, the principal
amount of Old Notes to exchange.

The New Notes offered will not be and have not been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 and are issued pursuant to an exemption under Section
3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Trans-Lux is a worldwide, full-service provider of integrated multimedia systems
for today's communications environments.  The essential elements of these
systems are the real-time, programmable electronic information displays the
Company manufactures, distributes and services.  Designed to meet the evolving
communications needs of both the indoor and outdoor markets, these displays are
used primarily in applications for the financial, banking, gaming, corporate,
transportation, entertainment and sports industries.  In addition to its display
business, the Company owns and operates a chain of motion picture theatres in
the western Mountain States.

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