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Not all pattern books were a complete loss in 1912. Many were salvaged. They were donated by Gaunts to the National Army Museum in the 1950s. Around 2005 the museum decided it could not retain non military items. It followed proper disposal procedures but no other museum wanted these books. They were disposed of at auction in 2007 and 2008.

The pattern books were as salvaged in 1912: paper Table of Contents with die numbers and identities gone, english military buttons removed by the museum, top items removed for special lots in the auction and the remaining cardboards with buttons covered in soot. Many cardboards had notes and many buttons had identities. Many only had initials for the company (e.g. a trader or tailor) ordering them and a "die released" date. Some resellers realising the added value of an identity present them as good as they can. Others just dump them on an auction site.

The high quality, treble gilt buttons from the early 19th century had taken the 1912 hammering without a problem. They were simply fired for a 4th time. Their solid layer of gold protected them from the corrosive soot during the years in storage. Later issues, such as the series of USA State Seal staff buttons, had their electroplated gilding reduced to dust and base metal corroded. Finally, 19th century cardboard seems the best ever produced: fire, soot and museum proof. Together they were a poisonous lot though. One interested party needed gloves and a mouth cap.

The books were heritage from the early industrial revolution - there were sheets with buttons from c. 1815. Some manufacturers had put buttons in that had failed quality control. Others had put a test strikes: a roughly cut die strike with a soldered loop - no gilding, no backplate, rough edge cut.
The buttons taken from the books by Alderman Gaunt for his collection had been replaced by paper drawings. His collection is now in Birmingham. Checking the cardboards would have been useful to the Birmingham museum, because the drawings carried so much information.