<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-01-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000099106</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRANS LUX CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TNLX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000929743</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZIZZA SALVATORE J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>810 SEVENTH AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>27TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-01-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>50000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>A Warrant</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-01-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-11-14</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-11-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>B Warrant</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-01-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-11-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sales price of $50,000 is for 2,500 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and 25,000 one-year &quot;A&quot; Warrants.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each &quot;A&quot; Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock and a three-year &quot;B&quot; Warrant at an exercise price of $1.00 per share, subject to adjustment to $0.20 per share at such time as the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company is amended to reduce the par value of the Common Stock to an amount equal to or less than $0.10.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each &quot;B&quot; Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share, subject to adjustment to $0.50 per share at such time as the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company is amended to reduce the par value of the Common Stock to an amount equal to or less than $0.10.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The &quot;B&quot; Warrant is exercisable upon the holder's exercise of the &quot;A&quot; Warrant, pursuant to which the &quot;B&quot; Warrant is issued, and exercisable for three years from date of transaction.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Salvatore J. Zizza</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-01-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0304
4
2012-01-16
0
0000099106
TRANS LUX CORP
TNLX
0000929743
ZIZZA SALVATORE J
810 SEVENTH AVE
27TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10019
1
0
0
0
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
2012-01-16
4
S
0
2500
50000
D
0
D
A Warrant
1
2012-01-16
4
S
0
25000
D
2011-11-14
2012-11-13
Common Stock
25000
500
D
B Warrant
1
2012-01-16
4
S
0
25000
D
2014-11-13
Common Stock
25000
500
D
The sales price of $50,000 is for 2,500 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and 25,000 one-year "A" Warrants.
Each "A" Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock and a three-year "B" Warrant at an exercise price of $1.00 per share, subject to adjustment to $0.20 per share at such time as the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company is amended to reduce the par value of the Common Stock to an amount equal to or less than $0.10.
Each "B" Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share, subject to adjustment to $0.50 per share at such time as the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company is amended to reduce the par value of the Common Stock to an amount equal to or less than $0.10.
The "B" Warrant is exercisable upon the holder's exercise of the "A" Warrant, pursuant to which the "B" Warrant is issued, and exercisable for three years from date of transaction.
Salvatore J. Zizza
2012-01-20