Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Jul. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Accounts receivable, allowance	$ 800,000	$ 1,013,000
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	11,299,528
Class A voting shares [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	20,000,000	20,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	11,299,528	11,299,528
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	11,299,528	11,299,528
Class B nonvoting stock [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	5,000,000	5,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	0