Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total stockholders equity	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Earnings [Member]	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member]	Unrealized Derivative Gains (Losses) [Member]	Minimum Retirement Benefit Liability Adjustments [Member]	Deferred Compensation in Equity [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock at Cost [Member]	Treasury Stock Held for Deferred Compensaton [Member]	Total
Balances at Sep. 30, 2011	$ 919,097	$ 106	$ 81,453	$ 3,626	$ 22,103	$ (484)	$ (17,993)	$ 4,581	$ 949,573	$ (115,661)	$ (4,581)
Balance, Treasury Stock, shares at Sep. 30, 2011										(4,070,000)
Balance, Common Stock, shares at Sep. 30, 2011		72,960,000
Balance, Treasury stock held for deferred compensation, Shares at Sep. 30, 2011											(315,000)
Net earnings	67,168								67,168			67,168
Cash dividends paid	(10,343)								(10,343)
Purchases of treasury stock	(14,312)									(14,312)
Purchases of treasury stock, shares										(345,000)
Sales of treasury stock	5,010		(1,324)							6,334
Sales of treasury stock, shares										390,000
Common shares issued from treasury stock for benefit plans	9,335		5,238							4,097
Common shares issued from treasury stock for benefit plans, shares										209,000
Tax benefit attributable to exercise of stock options	3,680		3,680
Stock-based compensation	5,291		5,291
Purchases of stock by deferred compensation plan	108		59					157		49	(157)
Purchases of stock by deferred compensation plan, shares										3,000	(4,000)
Distribution of stock from deferred compensation plan								(271)			271
Distribution of stock from deferred compensation plan, shares											26,000
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(453)			(453)	(453)
Reclassification of unrecognized derivative losses to earnings	88			88		88						88
Minimum retirement benefits liability adjustments	127			127			127					127
Taxes on changes in accumulated other comprehensive earnings	3,214			3,214	3,293	(34)	(45)
Balances at Mar. 31, 2012	988,010	106	94,397	6,602	24,943	(430)	(17,911)	4,467	1,006,398	(119,493)	(4,467)
Balance, Treasury Stock, shares at Mar. 31, 2012										(3,813,000)
Balance, Common Stock, shares at Mar. 31, 2012		72,960,000
Balance, Treasury stock held for deferred compensation, Shares at Mar. 31, 2012											(293,000)
Balances at Sep. 30, 2012	1,008,115	106	97,826	(11,723)	17,447	(376)	(28,794)	4,344	1,069,811	(147,905)	(4,344)	1,008,115
Balance, Treasury Stock, shares at Sep. 30, 2012										(4,536,000)		(4,536,000)
Balance, Common Stock, shares at Sep. 30, 2012		72,960,000										72,960,000
Balance, Preferred Stock, shares at Sep. 30, 2012												0
Balance, Treasury stock held for deferred compensation, Shares at Sep. 30, 2012											(276,000)	(276,000)
Net earnings	69,814								69,814			69,814
Cash dividends paid	(10,966)								(10,966)
Purchases of treasury stock	(23,235)									(23,235)
Purchases of treasury stock, shares										(610,000)
Sales of treasury stock	9,083		(11,766)							20,849
Sales of treasury stock, shares										693,000
Common shares issued from treasury stock for benefit plans	9,780		1,923							7,857
Common shares issued from treasury stock for benefit plans, shares										250,000
Tax benefit attributable to exercise of stock options	4,397		4,397
Stock-based compensation	5,379		5,379
Purchases of stock by deferred compensation plan	94		23					137		71	(137)
Purchases of stock by deferred compensation plan, shares										2,000	(3,000)
Distribution of stock from deferred compensation plan								(268)			268
Distribution of stock from deferred compensation plan, shares											23,000
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(6,058)			(6,058)	(6,058)
Reclassification of unrecognized derivative losses to earnings	86			86		86						86
Minimum retirement benefits liability adjustments	2,031			2,031			2,031					2,031
Taxes on changes in accumulated other comprehensive earnings	(339)			(339)	419	(33)	(725)
Balances at Mar. 31, 2013	$ 1,068,181	$ 106	$ 97,782	$ (16,003)	$ 11,808	$ (323)	$ (27,488)	$ 4,213	$ 1,128,659	$ (142,363)	$ (4,213)	$ 1,068,181
Balance, Treasury Stock, shares at Mar. 31, 2013										(4,201,000)		(4,201,000)
Balance, Common Stock, shares at Mar. 31, 2013		72,960,000										72,960,000
Balance, Preferred Stock, shares at Mar. 31, 2013												0
Balance, Treasury stock held for deferred compensation, Shares at Mar. 31, 2013											(256,000)	(256,000)