McDonald's original 1948 mascot was named Speedee.
Speedee was a chef-like character used to represent the McDonald brothers' Speedee Service System, which emphasized quick, standardized food preparation. The name connected the mascot directly to the restaurant's early service concept rather than to a particular menu item.
Speedee appeared in early McDonald's branding before Ronald McDonald became the company's best-known character. The character was eventually replaced as the central mascot, but the idea of speed remained important to the brand's identity. A common mix-up is identifying Speedee as a later McDonaldland character; he belonged to the restaurant's earlier visual identity.
The McDonald brothers introduced their redesigned, simplified service system at their San Bernardino, California, restaurant in 1948. Ray Kroc later expanded the business nationally, helping create the much larger brand associated with the Golden Arches and Ronald McDonald.