Originally Posted by
Revracer
T-Mar, thanks for the response. Attached is a pic of the bottom showing ROSS 290 and a serial of 0883113147. Guessing that is a 1983, but curious to know what indicates the production facility?
Not very many members have been willing to disclose their Ross serial numbers but based on the couple of dozen that I've been able to collect, I believe that your frame dates to August 1983. That is in the grey area where it could be either a 1983 or 1984 model.
Regarding the source, the known Allentown manufactured models from the mid-1980s all have an 'R' prefix to the serial number. Yours doesn't have one but there appears to be an isolated 'R' stamped into the drive side of the shell. If this was just sloppy workmanship and meant to be part of the serial number, then it could be an Allentown bicycle but I can't make a definitve statement.