The Clark Masts QT portable lightweight air-operated telescopic mast series was first introduced back in 1959 (Australia saw it in the early 1960's courtesy of a company called Belling-Lee and the foresight of a gentleman working for them at the time, Frank Welsh). In 1959, father of the Clark Mast, Alec Clark (who has only just recently retired from the company) foresaw the need, in addition to their 1957 introduced PT Series, for an easily handled light weight low cost portable mast. By the late 1960's still only four models existed in the QT mast range, a far cry short of 2009's forty different models. Then, as now, the distinguishing feature was its air-operation and side attached handpump. This method of extension makes the Clark Masts QT portable pump up mast self contained, lightweight, easy and rapid to extend (10 to 65 seconds depending on mast extended height) and very gentle in retraction. Locking collars on each Clark Masts QT series portable mast section allow sections to be locked together at any extension height, making the mast usable over a variable height range or alternatively locked at maximum height for long periods of time when the air supply may be removed. A PDF Brochure covering the 2010 QT portable mast series is available online.

Clark Masts QT masts are divided into two categories, the Clark Masts QT Series shown on this page and the heavier duty Clark Masts QT /P and /PX Series which are detailed HERE. Also a new self contained Tripod version, complete with guying kit for field mounting, is now available as the FT Series.

Clark Masts QT series portable masts are used for lifting, from 4 to 15 metres, light weight (up to 20 Kg) antennas, video and still cameras, sound measurement, air pollution monitoring equipment and a great deal of other apparatus which generally has omni-directional requirements (although with the mast sections locked, and rotating the mast by hand, the headload can be orientated in any desired direction). Clark Masts QT portable masts may be used un-guyed under wind conditions of 24 to 128 Km/hr, depending on the mast type. Clark Masts QT portable masts are supplied with three way guy collars already fixed at the most appropriate height. All Clark Masts QT telescopic masts are rated at a wind speed of 128 Km/hr when guyed. Full mast erection, using the Clark Masts QT air-operated mast's side attached handpump, takes anywhere from 10 to 70 seconds, depending on the mast's extended height. A 24 mm Clamp Collar Socket, that tightly clamps the spigot of the headload to the mast and releases instantly when required, is fitted to all Clark Masts QT series portable masts.

There is also a full range of Clark Masts QT portable mast Accessories available, including the free standing Mark IV shown above (a smaller Mark V Tripod also available for masts up to 6 metres), as well as guy assemblies, guy assembly kits, guy pickets for use in strong winds, weather covers and vehicle mounting and shelter attachment brackets. Clark Masts QT portable masts may also be extended using air sources other than the hand pump supplied. For example Clark Masts, through GFS Electronics, have available 12 and 24 volt DC as well as 230 volt AC operated Air Source/Mast Control Units, as well as adaptors for allowing the use of a truck's break air supply. Details on alternate air supply equipment may be found here.

Being the most common in-service Clark Masts portable air-operated mast, the QT series enjoy short delivery lead-times (GFS generally carry a number of models in stock) and their higher usage also makes them one of the lowest cost portable mast series available. For this reason, when considering a Clark Masts portable mast for your application, we advise that you consider a mast from the QT Series first.

Below are shown brief Clark Masts QT series portable mast specifications. This is the Clark Masts QT Series 2010 range, which includes 40 different models. Most model portable masts are available in a painted or an anodised version, the anodised version being better suited to high duty cycle / maximum headload applications or applications in a salty environment. Twenty kilogram headload rated QT Series telescopic masts are now available in the 6 and 8 metre height range, while Eighteen kilogram headload rated masts are available for 9 and 9 metre extended heights. Rotatable masts of 6, 8, 10 and 12 metre heights are now also part of the 2010 QT Series.

Portable masts with extended heights from 4 to 15 metres are available in the Clark Masts QT series for use in applications from emergency lighting (see Clark Masts Teklite Masts where specialist Emergency Portable Lighting Masts are required) to portable communications and aerial photography.