I had to switch to shorter reach, shallower drop bars some years ago, myself

JoeJack951's set-up looks pretty cool, perhaps if it had been around, and I found it back when I went through the "change", I'd have gone that route, but ordinarily I am genetically predisposed against threadless adaptor doo-hickeys. And along the way I also tried Factory Five's 31.8mm quill, which is the original version that CliffordK's fleabay knockoffs copied, but found it slightly flexy and even worse - a little odd-looking.

Anyway, I think you may be rushing to judgement in giving up so quickly on compact 26mm handlebars...

Besides suggesting that threadless headset conversion - jan230 also mentioned the Nitto M151, which I can tell you from experience is a good one, but it seems to have gotten glossed over here.
You might also consider the Dajia Cycleworks shallow drop handlebar that is available from VeloOrange. I liked mine and found it comfortable, but foolishly let it go when I sold the bike it was on.

I have 2 remaining vintage-ish steelies...
One has the Soma Highway 1 that you mentioned in your OP. I really like and recommend it highly to you. Even if you do have to special order one, it is cheap...errr...inexpensive enough that it won't hurt you if you do decide its not for you.
The other short, shallow bar I am presently using, and absolutely loving, is Nitto's M106 NAS Chinook. It has a somewhat rounder, more traditional-looking shape so nobody I ride with has ever caught on that it is a modern, "compact" bar until i told them.

Good luck and have fun...