Hi Barry,

Dyno, as I've understood it, was the forerunner term used to identify Honky style. The origins of both of these come with many thoughts from many individuals. Dyno, as you might know, was Marion Lush's record label for a long time. The late Casey Brzudzinski called the Honky style we played, "Dyno-Honky." I've heard bands like Eddie Zima referred to as playing Dyno style.

Musicians like Li'l Wally, Eddie Zima, Marion Lush are often considered the forerunners of this style. Although Lush primarily used two horns, his early music was faster than the Li'l Wally Honky sound but still had a different style from the Steve Adamczck style of music from Chicago.

Chicago-style polkas -- whether Dyno or Honky -- have a unique sound, with clarinet, trumpet, and the concertina, drums and bass. Many bands playing this style play by ear rather than using charts and written music. I think of Honky/Dyno as the "Jazz" or "Dixieland" of polka music because it is very improvisational. 

Here are a few links that might explain more about Dyno (on each page, search for "honky" or "dyno"):

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2822/is_4_27/ai_n8708926/pg_3 [part of an article by Ann Hetzel Gunkel]

http://www.nyfolklore.org/pubs/voicjl27/uptempo.html [a brief polka history by Kate Koperski]

http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/polka_h.htm [article by Charles and Angela Keil]

http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/991.html [The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago]

If you haven't looked at my new site, http://polkaeditor.com, please do.