The 1948 McDonald's Speedee logo featured a chef named Speedee.
Speedee represented the restaurant's fast-service identity before the Golden Arches became McDonald's most recognizable symbol. The character was drawn as a chef, linking quick preparation with the restaurant's original hamburger-and-milkshake business.
The Speedee mark is often confused with Ronald McDonald, but Ronald was introduced later as a promotional mascot. It is also distinct from the Golden Arches, which emerged in the 1950s and eventually replaced Speedee in the company's main visual identity.
The Speedee period reflects McDonald's early history as a single restaurant business operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California. Its branding emphasized speed, consistency, and a limited menu rather than the family-focused imagery used in later McDonaldland advertising.