The hardware pieces themselves are called "Reefing Hooks." They are commonly available and normally used on the mast just above the boom at the gooseneck. Sometimes they are attached to the gooseneck, itself. Their purpose is to provide a quick attachment point for the luff reefing cringle - the halyard is loosened, the cringle attached, and the halyard tightened. This is old-school, eliminating a reefing line on the luff. Many would still prefer them, however.
In your case someone has placed them below the boom to serve as a fairlead, of sorts, for the internal reefing lines-probably as part of leading them to the cockpit. In order to use them this way they have been bent which has caused the failure of the two broken ones.
I would ignore, or remove them, and create a system that makes sense to you and accomplishes what you want to accomplish.