McDonald's original mascot, introduced in 1948 as a hamburger-shaped character, was Speedee.
Speedee represented the McDonald brothers' Speedee Service System, which emphasized quick preparation and standardized food. The character wore a chef's hat and was commonly shown alongside the word "Speedee."
Speedee predates Ronald McDonald and the later cast of McDonaldland characters. As McDonald's branding changed, Speedee gradually disappeared from most customer-facing advertising, while the Golden Arches became the company's dominant visual symbol.
A common mix-up is confusing Speedee with the later Speedee Service System itself. Speedee was the mascot; the system was the restaurant-production method associated with the brothers' early operation in San Bernardino, California.