Indexed headset - repair or replace?

no, same size balls, but without the cage that normally holds them all in place, that allows (usually) one more bearing, and the altered spacing (they are of course closer together) means they sit away from the brinells (!) one or two my drop into them, but the remainder stay on the flats, so the headset works perfectly
I wish I could auto cad to draw my own unbrinelling theory

No cages here. I have never seen cages holding bearings on old bikes (pre-75) actually. Is it a coincidence or the way it was.
Fitting ball bearings without cage is easy, the grease holds them. More tricky not to loose balls when you take it appart and all the grease is gone /dry...

I realise that what I show above (the smaller ball trick) could not work...

Au diable le brinelling, soit maudit!

L