Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Accounts receivable, allowance	$ 933,000	$ 1,297,000
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	9,987,913
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	11,299,528	9,987,913