^Mine are a lot higher on my modern bikes, too. But they were just like this on my '61 Legnano. Universal centerpull. That bike was set up exactly like the photos of the above TdF bike. Any higher and you can't reach the levers. That's very easy to see. They're designed to be mounted like this. Trad bikes were really different. Note the large frame - hardly any seatpost showing. This way the drops are right about where modern hoods are. I rode in the drops most of the time. Thus the uncomfortable hoods mounting wasn't that big a deal anyway. The hoods weren't shaped to be ridden on the way they are today. Quite uncomfortable. However, I used to ride the hoods when I wanted to be a little higher for better visibility and just to change up the pressure points on my hands. It worked OK after you got used to it and developed the calluses.