McDonald's first major mascot before Ronald McDonald became prominent was Speedee.
Speedee was a chef character used to represent the McDonald brothers' fast-service restaurant concept. The figure appeared in early signs and branding, linking the company with quick preparation and standardized service rather than with a particular menu item.
The mascot belonged to McDonald's early identity, when the business was emphasizing operational speed and consistency. That identity later changed as the company expanded its family-oriented advertising and developed characters such as Ronald McDonald and the McDonaldland cast.
The wording can cause confusion because Speedee was not a hamburger character in the same narrative sense as the Hamburglar or Mayor McCheese. He was a chef mascot and an emblem of the original Speedee Service System, making him the earliest major character associated with the brand.