So much of life is about being in the right place at the right time. Consider "Three Smart Sisters," a circa-1940 ad from the Prelinger Archives on Archive.org.

In this charming period piece, three sisters want to go to a dance but have nothing to wear, and their father won't cough up any money for new gowns. As the young women stand sulking in front of their home, a Singer sewing machine salesman just happens to stroll by. He sends them to the Singer Sewing Center, where the girls learn how to make their own attire. ("Three Smart Sisters" is not as dramatic as Chekhov's Three Sisters, though it too tells the tale of a trio of siblings frustrated by their circumstances. To find out how this mini-drama unfolds, watch the ad.)

Singer has long been synonymous with sewing and was on the spot in this ad, but the company's models didn't stand out in our March 2009 report on sewing machines (available to subscribers). Read what our experts have to say about the 18 mechanical, electronic, and embroidery sewing machines we covered. Also learn how to choose the sewing machine that's right for you and get the most from your machine.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Check out "She Caught On Quick," another Singer ad on the Prelinger Archives. This ad is also from 1940, but its message is appropriate in today's economic climate.