This pot was used by my dad who trained under Jim Smith in Vero Beach, Florida in the 1980's. It is a little dirty from storage and use.   I only wiped it down with a dry cloth.  There are no chips or cracks. It is not Marked on the bottom.  I think I have several of these pots and I know I have the maker right as my dad stored this with the other  Houtoku Seito pots I have.