Segment and Geographic Information Reconciliation of Income From Segements to Consolidation (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,794,962,000		$ 1,653,921,000		$ 1,563,342,000
Net expense due to aerospace segment program related matter					3,300,000
Operating Income (Loss)	110,507,000		103,346,000		91,589,000
Net gain/(loss) on Sale of Other Assets	(233,000)		(142,000)		(110,000)
Interest Expense	13,382,000		12,294,000		12,113,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	623,000		398,000		(219,000)
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	96,502,000		90,654,000		79,695,000
Total Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	30,722,000		31,588,000		26,748,000
Earnings from continuing operations	65,780,000		59,066,000		52,947,000
Goodwill, impairment loss	0		2,071,000		0
Total assets	1,201,205,000		1,140,631,000		1,096,993,000
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	28,283,000		40,852,000		32,386,000
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	36,209,000		31,555,000		28,165,000
Aerospace [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales	632,970,000	[1]	613,967,000	[1]	580,769,000	[1]
Operating Income (Loss)	108,697,000	[2]	102,573,000	[2]	89,142,000
Goodwill, impairment loss	0		2,071,000
Total assets	531,868,000	[3]	557,831,000	[3]	521,080,000	[3]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	12,044,000		21,193,000		15,293,000
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	16,039,000		15,041,000		13,947,000
Unallocated Amount to Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net gain/(loss) on Sale of Other Assets	(233,000)		(142,000)		(110,000)
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating Income (Loss)	(54,722,000)		(45,291,000)		(46,759,000)
Total assets	121,987,000	[4]	102,683,000	[4]	126,361,000	[4]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	4,034,000		7,625,000		6,409,000
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	5,709,000		5,278,000		4,871,000
Distribution [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales	1,161,992,000		1,039,954,000		982,573,000
Operating Income (Loss)	56,765,000		46,206,000		49,316,000
Goodwill, impairment loss	0		0
Total assets	547,350,000	[3]	480,117,000	[3]	449,552,000	[3]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	12,205,000		12,034,000		10,684,000
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	14,461,000		11,236,000		9,347,000
U.S. Government [Member] | Aerospace [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales	271,700,000		262,900,000		303,500,000
Bearings and Power Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales	630,557,000		622,041,000		622,149,000
Automation, control and energy [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales	300,861,000		271,465,000		220,999,000
Fluid Power [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales	230,574,000		146,448,000		139,425,000
Military and Defense [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales	391,532,000		384,088,000		346,290,000
Commercial Aerospace [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales	241,438,000		229,879,000		234,479,000
VT composites [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Goodwill, impairment loss			2,100,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | VT composites [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Goodwill, impairment loss			$ 2,100,000

[1] Net sales by the Aerospace segment under contracts with U.S. Government agencies (including sales to foreign governments through foreign military sales contracts with U.S. Government agencies) totaled $271.7 million, $262.9 million and $303.5 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

[2] Operating income for 2013 includes a 2.1 million non-cash non-tax deductible goodwill impairment charge. Operating income for 2012 includes a $3.3 million loss associated with the resolution of a program related matter.

[3] (a) Identifiable assets are year-end assets at their respective net carrying values segregated as to segment and corporate use.

[4] (b) For the periods presented, the corporate identifiable assets are principally comprised of cash, short-term and long-term deferred income tax assets, capitalized debt issuance costs, cash surrender value of life insurance policies and fixed assets.