McDonald's original mascot and logo, introduced in 1948, was Speedee.
Speedee was a chef-like character with a hamburger-shaped head. He represented the McDonald brothers' original Speedee Service System, which emphasized fast, standardized food preparation at their San Bernardino, California, restaurant.
The character appeared before the Golden Arches became McDonald's most recognizable symbol. Speedee's name connected the brand to speed, an important selling point in the restaurant's early drive-in era. The logo also reflected McDonald's focus on efficient service rather than a broad family-oriented character universe.
Many people remember Ronald McDonald as the chain's first mascot, but Ronald arrived later, in the 1960s. The Golden Arches also replaced Speedee as the dominant visual identity. Speedee is therefore chiefly important as a piece of McDonald's early branding history and as evidence of how the company originally marketed quick service.