Speedee was the mascot on McDonald's early logo before Ronald McDonald became the chain's best-known character.
Speedee was drawn as a small chef-like figure and represented the fast service promised by McDonald's original Speedee Service System. The system was introduced by Richard and Maurice McDonald at their San Bernardino restaurant after its 1948 redesign.
The Speedee image connected the restaurant's branding with efficiency, while the later Golden Arches emphasized the physical appearance of McDonald's buildings. Ronald McDonald was introduced nationally in the 1960s and eventually became the more prominent mascot.
Speedee is sometimes confused with the Hamburglar or other McDonaldland characters. Those figures belonged to later advertising campaigns, whereas Speedee was associated with the chain's earlier restaurant identity and service concept.