This tiny key was used on many post WW-II British and Australian radios. It was manufactured by McMurdo industries in England.  It has a canvas strap that can be attached to the operator's leg. It is totally sealed and waterproof and was also used on life rafts. The same style of key was used by the British Military in the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's with the A13 and A14 man packs. The Australian army used a similar key, made by AWA, from 1970 to 1995.

      A steel, straight key from Australia. “P. M.G. 1942 E.W.T”. is stamped on the base. “PMG” means Post Master General. This key is similar to the British WT-8A keys that were used by the British armed forces throughout WW-II."  This key has a conventional steel lever.   I purchased this key from an EBay seller in New South Wales, Australia.

This heavy duty Australian Clipsal Model 610 key was manufactured during and after WW-II by Gerard Industries. Clipsal is still in business today. This key was used for both land line telegraphy and amateur radio.  It has a bakelite base approximately 4 1/2 inches by 2 3/4 inches. The key has brass fittings and straight wide and flat lever with a British knurled type bakelite knob. The Model 610 has two brass terminals that extend from the side of the base. It says "Clipsal" under the knob.

This British engineered key has a mushroom knob and black phelonic base.  These keys were made in over 100 versions in 6 countries starting in the 1920s.  They were used extensively by British Troops in WW II..  The 8A means 8 amp capacity.  These keys work in reverse of most keys.  The lever is not conductive.  The key has a classic British knob and uses slot screws with lock nuts rather than the conventional knurled-top screws for the electrical connections.

Another variation on the WT-8A Key.  This one is a bit unusual since the lever is metal, not phelonic or bakelite.  The date on the lever reads 1942. 

  This Bathtub key was used in WWII British  bombers. The contacts are completely enclosed to prevent sparks. The top of the key is hinged and opens to show  the "upside down" key that is inside. The metal clip on the right keeps the cover closed but it can be slipped over the knob to hold it down. This allowed a radio operator to parachute from a plane while still sending out homing signals.

There are labels on the front edge of the enclosure for the up or non-keying position "Prijem" (receive) and the down or keying position "Vysilani" (transmit). The body is a dark green bakelite or plastic. Info on this key was kindly provided by Jan, OK1XU, who says "This key was (and I think till today is) generally used in the Czech Army. It is part of the old field radio station "RM31" (many tubes and X-tals...). Many Czech hams learned CW by a means of this key, because these keys could be found in many radio clubs, at flea markets and so on." N1FN

    This is a 60's/70's vintage Jardillier miniature key They were made in Issy, Les Moulineaux, France and were manufactured for the French military, and the French Post Office. The key was also used by the South African military  It was equipped with a canvas strap, that was made to be strapped over the operator’s thigh.

This key is small enough to be called a “Spy Key”, but it actually was used in the Indian Telegraph Service. It was part of a test set that workers used when climbing telegraph poles to determine where there was a problem with their telegraph lines. It was designed to be strapped to the climber’s leg so that he could easily operate the key while on the pole

  An Italian military key that was manufactured by IRET (Industria Radio Elettrica e Telecomunicazioni) in Trieste, Italy.  I don't know too much about this key. I bought it on Ebay from Antonio Fucci of Fano Italy.

A Russian, wood base, training key with a metal lever and plastic knob. It was made for DOSAAF that trained school children in the use of the code. In English, it means: Voluntary Society of Assistance to the Army, the Air Force and the Navy, a pre-military youth organization.

This is a miniature straight key with a straight lever arm and a black plastic knob. The key appears to be enclosed in a gray metal box. I have kept it in its original sealed plastic bag.  Inside the bag, there is a paper with some Russian characters.
According to Tom Perrera, these keys were used with R-143, R-159, Angara and some spy radios and some special radios. I have also read that they were used by paratroopers. 

These keys were manufactured in Cherkassy, Ukraine, for the Soviet military up through the 1980s. They are very heavy duty. The hinged cover, knob and base are a heavy plastic. This TKF model has a filter built into its base to eliminate sparking and induced currents in high RF environments.