Note 17 - Related Party Transactions (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Number of Directors	3
Percent of the Company Owned By Steel Partners [Member] | Prior to Execution of Share Purchase Agreement [Member]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	40.00%
Percent of the Company Owned By Steel Partners [Member] | Subsequent to Execution of Share Purchase Agreement [Member]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	51.10%
Percent of BNS owned by Steel Partners [Member] | Prior to Execution of Share Purchase Agreement [Member]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	85.00%
Steel Partners Holdings LP [Member] | SWH, Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price	$ 68,700,000
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares (in Shares)	2,027,500
Equity Issuance, Per Share Amount (in Dollars per share)	$ 30
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Cash Paid	7,900,000
Chief Executive Officer [Member] | Monthly Compensation [Member]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	30,000
SP Corporate Services LLC [Member] | Monthly Fees for Financial Management and Administrative Services [Member]
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	35,000
SP Corporate Services LLC [Member] | Monthly Expanded Services [Member]
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	300,000
WebBank [Member]
Due from Related Parties, Current	15,100,000
SWH, Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price	68,700,000
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares (in Shares)	2,027,500
Equity Issuance, Per Share Amount (in Dollars per share)	$ 30
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Cash Paid	$ 7,900,000