The origin of the Ergo lies with Nettel who sold a camera by Leon Bloch as the Argus (also sold by Watson & Sons). Following the Contessa-Nettel merger in 1919, the Argus was re-designed and manufactured by Contessa-Nettel. A leaf shutter replaced the earlier cylindrical type, the shutter release was moved to the body of the camera away from the eyepiece. The Ergo continued to be manufactured after the formation of Zeiss-Ikon.

A note with the camera dated 1953 states that the camera was purchased second-hand in the late 1920s and that it produced good results.