Speedee was the mascot that appeared on McDonald's early signs after its 1948 rebranding.
Speedee was a chef-like figure with a hamburger-shaped head. He represented the McDonald brothers' Speedee Service System, which emphasized quick, standardized food preparation.
The character predates Ronald McDonald by more than a decade. Ronald became the chain's best-known advertising mascot after his 1963 debut, while Speedee gradually disappeared from mainstream branding.
Speedee is sometimes confused with the Golden Arches because both belonged to McDonald's early visual identity. The arches became the company's dominant symbol during the 1960s, but Speedee was the earlier mascot linked to the restaurant's service system.