Note 6 - Warranty Costs - Warranty and General Liability Reserve (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016
Balance, beginning of period	$ 118,013	$ 133,389	$ 121,144	$ 135,053
Charges incurred during the period	(7,177)	(5,514)	(16,703)	(15,183)
Changes to pre-existing reserves
Balance, end of period	117,207	136,706	117,207	136,706
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Additions	2,856	4,292	5,764	8,915
Cost of Sales [Member]
Additions	$ 3,515	$ 4,539	$ 7,002	$ 7,921

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for estimated claims under standard and extended warranty protection rights granted to customers.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68068213&loc=d3e12565-110249

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (c)(5)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68068213&loc=d3e12565-110249

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.15(5))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductWarrantyAccrual
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of decrease in the standard and extended product warranty accrual from payments made in cash or in kind to satisfy claims under the terms of the standard and extended product warranty.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductWarrantyAccrualPayments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in the standard and extended product warranty accrual from changes in estimates attributable to preexisting product warranties.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductWarrantyAccrualPreexistingIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase in the standard and extended product warranty accrual from warranties issued.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: