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The Formatory Apparatus is another name for the mechanical part of the intellectual centre. It is given a special name because it plays such a large role in our lives. For example, it will attempt to answer when a question is addressed to the whole of us.
It uses words; its medium is words. Its function is to record data and take care of such repetitive automatic tasks as: simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and so on; serve as a databank for data such as address, telephone number, pin number, general knowledge, common sayings such as `Hello, how are you', individual words, and so on. It collects ready-made opinions. It does not think; it can only recite.
It can only see two possibilities, for example, `yes' or `no', `all' or `nothing', `bad' or `good'; it cannot see a spectrum of possibilities, or shades of gray. It can, however, spew out long lists of data and information, which can be mistaken for intelligent discussion or intelligent thought to the uneducated observer. In this respect, the formatory apparatus is much admired in ordinary life, for its ability, for example, to know who won where and when what match/test/game of football/cricket/baseball/sumo/basketball/hockey, and so on. It will also read at random, for example, cereal boxes, labels, advertisements, magazines, newspapers, and so on, with little or no attention.
It is engaged in wrong work, for example, when it answers a question or a discussion addressed to the whole intellectual centre, or to the whole of us.
The mechanical parts of centres tend to operate in a less coordinated way than the emotional and intellectual parts of centres. For example, you can walk and chew gum and exchange opinions on the latest test match at the same time; however, these activities are relatively unrelated except by accident. It is another matter when you bring all your centres together to focus on solving a difficult problem, for example, of designing the furnishings in a room, or a theatrical production, to produce a particular and specific psychological effect.
P. D. Ouspensky also said that when you hear the phrase (or related phrases, presumably) `It is said that...', that this indicates formatory apparatus is operating. To me, this seems to be true when the statement is not supported by any further examples, observations, or discussion.
When we hear or read a new idea, or receive new knowledge, and respond with the phrase `I already know that' and lose interest, this is usually a symptom that the formatory apparatus is operating in us.