Pendulum clocks generally come with two different sections (time / pendulum & chime), which work separately.
To set the time, simply insert a battery or multiple batteries (normally a single AA battery) into the relevant compartments, turn the knob to the correct time (like you would a normal wall clock).
In the pendulum / chime section, insert the batteries (generally two AA batteries). Normally the chimes will sound, which will set the time to midnight but you will know what time it has been set to by the strikes made usually. Simply press the red button or set button, to get the time to the time required. If the current time is in the afternoon, you will need to press the red button twelve times before the mechanism knows it's the afternoon. If the time is 5pm, you will need to set the time to 4pm and the chimes will then chime, correctly once the time gets to 5pm.
If your pendulum clocks comes with an auto-night shut off remember the clock will not strike usually between 10pm & 5am
In some of the Fox and Simpson brand of clocks there are 4 Mode button settings for chimes, if your clock has this setting the mode descriptions are below:
Mode 1 – Westminster Chime only – No Strike
Mode 2 – Westminster Chime & Quarterly Strike (Recommended when Setting the Clock up)
Mode 3 – Strike only – No Chime
Mode 4 – Alternative Chime (Usually Ave Maria)