ThinkPad Leather Topload Case: Fake, Real?

[Radioguy]

Hi,

I've been through a few official branded IBM, TP, and even Lenovo branded backpacks and cases, but never actually got one of the more prestigious (and expensive) topload leather ones with the recessable flat square leather handles (not like the current retro-style Executive with the metal accents).

When I last saw one of these, I thought it had the standard TP (Narrow Haettenschweiler typeface) embossed logo on the body of the bag. However, someone close (knowing my TP fanaticism) saw and picked up a second-hand case for me, and it's the one...only it has the shorter-lived 90's logo on the luggage tag and not anywhere else.

Now, I know from experience that there were different vendors for certain items, and revisions over the years among them, but I also know that there were Ultrabay option cases that were real and branded, and some which were fake...and also sometimes branded all the same.

Is the case I speak of, one that varied quite a bit albeit always being authentic? Or, was it a case that was standard outside of IBM, and just branded with TP/IBM for them? (I think that was true of some of the red-lined soft sleeves) Or, do I just have a knockoff?

I'm unsure, but I went and checked eBay for anyone selling on of these older ones, and see this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181736558991

That's the same one, and also not branded as I remember. However, the tag looks faintly like it has the standard TP logo.

Anyhow, if real, does anyone know the OPT number for it, or the variants (if any)? In my mind, this always seemed the "best" of the cases back in the day (I think it was the priciest, wasn't it?).

I just wonder if the one I have really is what it looks like.

[Rob]

I have that same exact bag that is in the ebay auction. It is genuine, and was purchased from IBM at the same time as the T21 I used to have. It just has the ThinkPad brand on the luggage tag.

Port is the brand that used to make the bags. I think it's possible that not all of them were ThinkPad branded.

[Radioguy]

Thanks for the info.