It's a good match for the Fuji serial number format used in the early 1970s. If so, the bicycle was manufactured in Decemebr 1972, which would make it a 1973 model. If it hung around in the shop for a while, your uncle could have bought it in 1974, but during that period, the 10 speeds were flying out the door almost as soon as they came in. Use the forum's search function for Fuji Serial Number Database and you will get more info on the Fuji format.