Before Ronald McDonald, Speedee represented McDonald's Speedee Service System.
Speedee was a chef-like character used in McDonald's early branding during the 1940s and 1950s. His name referred to the restaurant's emphasis on fast food preparation, a central idea in the system created by Richard and Maurice McDonald.
The Speedee image appeared in early signs and promotional materials before the Golden Arches became the company's dominant visual symbol. It is often confused with later McDonaldland characters, but Speedee belonged to the restaurant's earlier operational and service branding rather than the later fantasy character lineup.
Ronald McDonald emerged in the 1960s and gradually became the chain's best-known mascot. Speedee nevertheless remains an important part of McDonald's brand history because he linked the original restaurant concept to its promise of quick service.