McDonald's early hamburger-selling mascot, introduced in 1948, was Speedee.
Speedee was a smiling chef character whose name referred to the McDonald brothers' Speedee Service System. Richard and Maurice McDonald introduced that system at their redesigned restaurant in San Bernardino, California, in 1948.
The system emphasized a limited menu, standardized preparation, and rapid service. Speedee appeared on early McDonald's signs and packaging before Ronald McDonald became the company's best-known character.
Speedee is sometimes confused with McDonald's later mascots, especially Ronald McDonald and Mac Tonight. The character was also distinct from the Golden Arches, which became the company's dominant visual symbol during the 1950s and 1960s.