Speedee was the McDonald's mascot with a hamburger-shaped head, first used in 1948.
The character was created for the McDonald brothers' early restaurant branding. Speedee wore a chef-style outfit and represented the quick-service system that made the restaurant distinctive after its 1948 redesign.
The 1948 redesign replaced a broader barbecue menu with a smaller selection centered on hamburgers, fries, and beverages. Faster preparation became a central selling point, so Speedee's name and appearance reinforced the restaurant's operational identity.
Speedee later disappeared from the most prominent McDonald's advertising as Ronald McDonald and the McDonaldland characters became more familiar. This history can cause confusion because Speedee is sometimes incorrectly described as a later character. He predates Ronald McDonald and belongs to McDonald's earliest branding period.