McDonald's introduced the Speedee mascot in 1948 as part of its early restaurant branding.
Speedee was a chef-like character used to represent the McDonald brothers' fast-service system. The name connected the mascot with the restaurant's emphasis on preparing food quickly, a central part of the brothers' redesigned business model after they simplified their menu.
Speedee predates Ronald McDonald and the Golden Arches' later dominance in the company's public identity. The character appeared in early signs and promotional material, while the restaurant's visual identity was still closely tied to the original San Bernardino operation.
A common mix-up is confusing Speedee's introduction with the opening of the McDonald brothers' first restaurant in 1940. The restaurant began in 1940, but the Speedee branding appeared later, in 1948. Ronald McDonald eventually became the better-known mascot after his debut in 1963.