McDonald's used Speedee as its original hamburger-service mascot before Ronald McDonald.
Speedee was introduced in 1948, when Richard and Maurice McDonald redesigned their restaurant in San Bernardino, California, around a fast self-service model. The character was a chef with a hamburger-shaped head, emphasizing the restaurant's rapid preparation system.
The name connected directly to the brothers' early branding, including the phrase “Speedee Service System.” Speedee appeared on signs, packaging, and advertising during McDonald's formative years. This mascot is sometimes confused with later McDonaldland characters, but Speedee belonged to the restaurant's earlier identity.
Ronald McDonald gradually became the better-known public face of the chain during the 1960s. Speedee nevertheless remains important in branding history because he represents the transition from a conventional barbecue restaurant to a standardized fast-food business.