Tange Levin split crown race

I've got a used Tange Levin headset off eBay. It is in reasonable condition to look at, but before I put the crown race onto the fork, there was a split in the race that made itself apparent.

I know some modern headset crown races are split so that weedy people can attach them to forks with the wrong tool, but this has loose bearings. Loose bearings can't roll over a split surface right? I'm pretty sure it's fucked and want to send it back to the seller. It is of the vintage in the attached photo, not the latest model.

Has anyone else seen this on a similar Tange Levin?

Crown race looks pitted/ brinelled anyway, so I would say it's had it..

All the split ones I've seen just support a sealed cartridge bearing, so don't have balls running round them.

A cracked one is still likely to work as the balls don't really go anywhere, though I personally would not install one on a bike I cared about.

the wrong tool

I think the split in the race is as a result of the above, rather than to facilitate its use!

Either way, those pits in the race will give your steering an "indexed" feel: it's only fit for the bin.

A new Levin is less than twenty quid.