Practical Equipment Limited, known as Pel, was established by the Midlands conglomerate, Tube Investments, in 1931 in response to the development of tubular steel furniture by the German firm Thonet. A number of architects and industrial designers created furniture for Pel, exploring the possibilities and limitations of this new medium.

This desk, designed by the architect Wells Coates, is an excellent example of the ways in which tubular steel could be exploited to create furniture. The 'sledge' legs of the desk ensure that there are no sharp edges that could damage a wooden floor, while providing a means of fixing and supporting the top and drawers.

In the early 1930s tubular steel furniture was considered both avant-garde and chic, and attracted an affluent clientele but, as metal became more widespread in furniture design, Finnish plywood furniture took over as the fashionable choice. Pel survived this swing in taste by heavily marketing a cheap tubular steel-framed stacking chair with a canvas seat, which became the mainstay of village halls across Britain.