Discontinued Operations and Divestiture Activities Income Statement and Balance Sheet Summary (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$ 0	$ 3,032
Electrical
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Net sales		63,012
Operating income (loss)		5,229
Income tax expense		(2,197)
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		$ 3,032

Tax effect allocated to a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items. Includes the tax effects of the following: income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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Amount of operating income or loss attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

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Amount of income (loss) from a disposal group, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items after deduction or consideration of the amount allocable to noncontrolling interests. Includes, net of tax, income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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