McDonald's original mascot was Speedee, introduced in 1948 with the Speedee Service System.
Speedee was a chef-like character whose smiling face appeared in early McDonald's signs and promotional material. The name referred to the restaurant's emphasis on fast service, a central idea in the McDonald brothers' original operating model.
Speedee predates the Golden Arches and Ronald McDonald. McDonald's began replacing the character as its visual identity became more strongly associated with the arches and later advertising characters. Some historical images show Speedee as a round-faced chef, which can cause confusion with later mascots.
The Speedee Service System itself was introduced by Richard and Maurice McDonald at their San Bernardino, California, restaurant in 1948. It helped establish standardized preparation, limited menus, and quick counter service as defining features of the brand.