Silicone Flange for a Orthophonic Reproducer? Thoughts?

[Victrolaman]

I need to replace my back flange on the Brass Reproducer. Someone i know aid he makes his own out of Silicone and says it makes a huge difference in the bass response. I guess even the new ones the rubber is to hard.
What he does is he take the old original dried out flange out, chips away all the old rubber, and then makes sure the brass bushing is all clean.
Then takes a small piece of white gasket, the one used to go in a Exibition, and lines that around in the inside of the back of the reproducer where the flange goes, first though he puts a small bit of silicone around the rim inside and lays the pice of gasket in.
Then i gess he centers the bushing in there and fills all around the thing with Silicone and lets it dry over night.
Has anyone hear of this before and does it work.
I have noticed the new back flanges they have now are very hard rubber, in a sense, its like putting the old hard one back in? I guess the silicone is better for response.
Has anyone done this before or make their own flanges for a Orthophonic reproducer?