McDonald's original mascot was Speedee, used in the chain's first logo in 1948.
Speedee was a chef-like character with a hamburger-shaped head. He represented the McDonald brothers' Speedee Service System, which emphasized preparing food quickly and consistently.
The Speedee logo appeared before the Golden Arches became McDonald's defining visual symbol. It reflected the restaurant's original focus on rapid service rather than the later family-oriented character universe.
McDonald's replaced Speedee in its branding as the Golden Arches became more prominent during the 1960s. Ronald McDonald was introduced later as the chain's major advertising character, while characters such as the Hamburglar and Grimace belonged to a later campaign period. This makes Speedee an easy name to confuse with McDonald's later mascots, but he was the earliest of the group.