Ross Eurotour Question

[Gaunt Dusk]

Hello, I kind of bought an old bicycle from a local antique store for about twenty bucks. I've been cleaning off the rust in 5 and 10 minute increments considering I'm kinda busy with school and work but I was wondering if any of you knew how I could tell the year of this bike. I've been looking all over this thing, on the bottom and the front sticker, but I've had no luck finding any number on it.
If you can't read the writing (Sorry about that) it says it's a Ross Eurotour with a Tempered Lug Frame. I think it's made of steel, which was the appeal for making it a fixer upper project. I figured the material would mean it might outlast me. It seems like it's probably older than me.
I actually plan to scrape off the paint, since my removal of the rust with vinegar has been taking off the paint as well as the rust.
I just figured it would be fun to paint it myself since I'm getting it some new parts. It was pretty cheap; only twenty bucks so I thought I'd make a fun fix up project during the winter since it's kinda fall now.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v137/ ... 841bd6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v137/ ... 0ca5fd.jpg

Does anyone know how to ID the year on this thing?

 

[The Black Monark]

Looks like a 1980s bike to me, and a good winter project 8)

 

[Gaunt Dusk]

Well that narrows things down, thanks.
Oh yeah, the front sticker with the Ross logo says "Allentown PA" on the bottom and the top of that front sticker is "CBC".
Does anyone know where I can find the freaking serial number? Like I said, I've looked it up and down quite a few times. Maybe it's ready to bite me, or maybe it was scratched off by time.

 

[The Black Monark]

CBC was Chain Bike Corporation

 

[Gaunt Dusk]

Ah,well I found out through some research that Ross bikes stopped being produced in Allentown in 1979 or 1985. No idea which, but either one can narrow production.

However I finally found the serial number while cleaning the rust and have heard there is a code in the serial numbers for telling the date.
It is a weird number though. 0279474 circle 94 (A little tiny circle, not the actual word circle. Just in case you were as confused as me.)
I am not sure what the little circle means, if it is an incomplete nine or if it is something else but I feel good for finding it.

I found another bike on Youtube that looks almost identical to mine with a different color but he had no exact year, alas. Also there was a bell and no hand brakes. Here is the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wumNdganOXg I wouldn't be surprised if my bike was a following year to this or something.

I am mostly hoping to find out so I can paint the year, make and model on the side of the bike after scraping off all the paint.