The bent clip was explained elsewhere as evidence of forced disassembly, which I agree with. It's easy for me to imagine a lid that has been broken off of a box, but still has the strap connecting them. A hard pull will pull out one clip, bending it. Then again, I'm imaging things about a clip that has no definite purpose. It might be for some other use. I'd like to step back a bit and ask some rhetorical questions:
1) why use aluminum for the clips? - It's lightweight, doesn't rust, easy to fabricate, is electrically conductive, and might be the only material available that can be worked with available tools.
'Lightweight' is appropriate for aircraft use, but the long wood screw implies thick wood attachment. That limits the aircraft applications somewhat. Lightweight is also appropriate for hand-carried things, like luggage or instrument cases that are used in the field. I found a wealth of antique custom-made gun cases, on the web of course, with lots of hand-made bits and pieces, for one example.
'Non-rusting' assumes ferrous alternatives could have been chosen instead, but weren't. What ferrous clips (painted or coated with zinc) were like these? Rust stains fabric, so aluminum might be picked for use as a fabric-retainer, rather than something that rusts or corrodes (brass or copper, given long enough, will stain fabric with verdegris).
'Easy to fabricate' argues for local fabrication (native use), or limited tools (also native), or cheap manufacturing requirements. Aluminum would be one of the few materials a native artisan would be able to work from aircraft parts, or aluminum ship parts, or aluminum from any source. What tools did locals have? tin snips, files, saws, drills, torches, machines, CNC? I've seen amazing work done with a file, hacksaw and patience, but not on cast iron or heavy steel engine parts, which might only be useful as an anchor or anvil.
'Electrically conductive' is an intriguing property, bringing to mind a grounding/bonding clip. The teeth would bite into the thing needing to be electrically bonded to. No application comes to mind that would require bonding yet also use a wood-screw. Did a wire somehow connect to the little hole? Aluminum tends to corrode easily when used as a conductor. Anyone got other suggestions for electrical uses?
'Only material available that can be worked with local tools' seems to imply native use and re-work, which has been discussed.
2) Why teeth? For gripping something to keep it from moving, to prevent something from rotating, to engage with mating teeth, to puncture or weaken something intentionally, for "style".
3) Why a wood screw?
4) Why a little second hole?
5) Why two different designs?
Answering these questions with a variety of ideas may identify some use that is common to all, helping identify a "most likely" reason for being there.
to be continued...