Turner does better than Brown (7)
I believe the answer is:
capstan
'turner' is the definition.
(turning or revolving machine part)
'does better than brown' is the wordplay.
'does better than' becomes 'caps' ('I can cap that').
'brown' becomes 'tan' (tan is a kind of brown).
'caps'+'tan'='CAPSTAN'
(Other definitions for capstan that I've seen before include "One used to wind" , "Device winding in rope" , "Revolving shaft" , "Tape-, cable-driving spindle" , "Cylinder for winding ropes/cables" .)