I was issued with a tin of the stuff on enlistment as Aircraftman 2nd Class in 1963. Within days, bag of anodised buttons appeared (subsequently replaced at private expense by the high domed version) and, thereafter, I found little use for my button stick.
O-D
Whilst anodised buttons saved work they never looked as good, but why did we have high dome forced on us? Button holes were too small.