Segment Information (Detail) - The following table presents certain operating segment information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017
Sales:
Product	$ 16,080	$ 23,084	$ 43,798	$ 52,007
Service	3,964	3,345	9,480	8,127
Total sales	20,044	26,429	53,278	60,134
Income (loss) from operations	222	1,342	(476)	1,704
Assets from continuing operations	58,958	58,107	58,958	58,107	$ 58,928
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets	16,263	16,509	16,263	16,509
Capital expenditures	86	78	262	169
Depreciation and amortization	147	123	398	361
High Performance Products Segment
Sales:
Product	1,665	1,635	4,752	5,155
Service	1,422	1,680	2,600	4,331
Total sales	3,087	3,315	7,352	9,486
Income (loss) from operations	(43)	388	(1,482)	802
Assets from continuing operations	15,018	17,277	15,018	17,277
Capital expenditures	34	32	80	90
Depreciation and amortization	75	58	188	168
United Kingdom
Sales:
Product	1,978	1,748	5,276	4,611
Service	232	252	512	565
Total sales	2,210	2,000	5,788	5,176
Income (loss) from operations	14	58	(77)	(183)
Assets from continuing operations	4,769	2,078	4,769	2,078
Capital expenditures	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	1	2	3	7
U.S.
Sales:
Product	12,437	19,701	33,770	42,241
Service	2,310	1,413	6,368	3,231
Total sales	14,747	21,114	40,138	45,472
Income (loss) from operations	251	896	1,083	1,085
Assets from continuing operations	22,908	22,243	22,908	22,243
Capital expenditures	52	46	182	79
Depreciation and amortization	71	63	207	186
Total
Sales:
Product	14,415	21,449	39,046	46,852
Service	2,542	1,665	6,880	3,796
Total sales	16,957	23,114	45,926	50,648
Income (loss) from operations	265	954	1,006	902
Assets from continuing operations	27,677	24,321	27,677	24,321
Capital expenditures	52	46	182	79
Depreciation and amortization	72	65	210	193
Continuing Operations
Sales:
Assets from continuing operations	42,695	41,598	42,695	41,598
Continuing Operations | High Performance Products Segment
Sales:
Assets from continuing operations	15,018	17,277	15,018	17,277
Continuing Operations | United Kingdom
Sales:
Assets from continuing operations	4,769	2,078	4,769	2,078
Continuing Operations | U.S.
Sales:
Assets from continuing operations	22,908	22,243	22,908	22,243
Continuing Operations | Total
Sales:
Assets from continuing operations	$ 27,677	$ 24,321	$ 27,677	$ 24,321